Accra, July 29, GNA - Ghana's second Millennium Excellence Award, which has the prominence of the Nobel Laureate, would come off in June 2005, with awards in at least 25 categories.

The most prestigious and hard earned achievement award by any individual in Ghana would be on the theme: "Co-Creation Leadership and Excellence in Ghana."

Dr Kwabena Duffuor, Chairman, Board of Governors of the Millennium Excellence Awards, launched the Awards on Monday, with an appeal to individuals, corporate bodies and organisations to support the organisation of the event with adequate financial and material resources as well as sponsorship.

"These Awards will motivate the young to excel in their chosen fields of endeavour," Dr Duffour said.

"Corporate sponsors would also benefit through print, broadcast and outdoor advertising and would as well be demonstrating their social responsibility."

Ms Joyce Rosalind Aryee, a Member of the Board of Governors of the Awards, on behalf of the Mr Kojo Yankah, Chairman of Events of the Awards, listed some of the Awards.

They are in Agriculture; Peace; Scientific; Education;, Grassroots and Rural Development, Industrial Development, Women Empowerment and Inspirational Motivation Awards.

Others are the Humanitarian, International Development Partner, Literary, Sports and Information Computer Technology Awards. Awards in the Special /Business categories include Business Award for one year, a decade and a century.

Awards would also be given to Foreign Business as well for the three different periods.

There would also be Ghanaian and Foreign Personality Awards for one year, a decade and a century.

Ms Aryee, who is also Chief Executive of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, said: " This event is not just another awards programme, but one that will have international significance."

The awards programme would not only be acknowledged by the sitting President of Ghana, but it would also be attended by at least one Foreign President and 1,200 distinguished and acknowledged national and international achievers and Special Invited Guests at the State Banquet Hall.

She said the Millennium Excellence Awards is a non-political event, and its Board of Governors are Highly Distinguished Personalities. Other Governors are Colonel Kofi Abaka Jackson (rtd), Scientist, Inventor; Mr Kwaku Baprui Asante, a former Diplomat and Educationist and Professor Kwesi Yankah, Dean of Faculty of Arts, University of Ghana, Legon.

The Company mandated to organise and manage the event is the Dateline Marketing Company.

Ms Aryee said there would be a nine point adjudicating process for the Awards.

A first advert would be released in the Press requesting residents of Ghana to submit names of individuals and companies both foreign and local they believed should win an award. The request would be for a one-page write-up, which shall be authenticated by the Adjudicating Panel.

Mr Kofi Yankah, an official of Dateline Marketing Company, said in addition to local publicity, the event would be advertised on media networks as CNN, BBC and DWTV.