etv Ghana, organiser of Ghana’s Most Influential Awards, has released the final list of the Most Influential Personalities for the Year 2013. Now in its fourth year, the etv Ghana Most Influential Awards is an annual event organised by the station to recognise Ghanaians who made a great impact on Ghanaian society during the Year under review.

The top-20 out of the 100 Most Influential Personalities for the year 2013 in Ghana include Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo; Chief Imam Sheikh Nuhu Sharubutu; Dr. Mensah Otabil; Justice William Atuguba; Kwesi Appiah; Anas Aremeyaw Anas; President John Dramani Mahama; Ex-President John Agyekum Kufuor; Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia; Martin Amidu; Prince Kofi Amoabeng; Ex-President Jerry John Rawlings; Rev. Fr. Campbell; Manasseh Azure Awuni; Otumfuo Osei Tutu II; Cardinal Turkson; Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen; Osei Kwame 'Despite'; Roland Agambire; and Archbishop Nicholas Duncan Williams. Past winners of the awards are Cardinal Peter Turkson (2010), Joseph Siaw Agyepong (2011), and Roland Agambire (2012).

etv officially started the process for the 2013 edition of the Ghana’s Most Influential Awards in November when nominations opened for the public to nominate personalities they believe were most influential in the Year 2013. Nominations were solicited from the streets, via text through a short code, and via etv Ghana’s facebook page and website.

Unlike previous years when public voting constituted 100% of the voting, the voting system for the 2013 edition was revised. Public voting was 75% and the online voting was given a 5% voting weight, while a specially constituted committee had a 20% voting weight, totalling 100%. The entire voting process was verified, vetted and approved by Pannell Kerr Forster (PKF), one of the top-five most respected audit firms in the country. Mr. Eric Tettefio, a senior Partner at the firm, noted that “we have reviewed and vetted the processes for the nominations and the voting mechanism for Ghana’s Most influential Awards, and we confirm that it is transparent and the final list is very credible”.

Rosemond Aryeetey, Head of Corporate Communications at Global Media Alliance, owners of etv Ghana said: “this is the fourth time etv Ghana is conducting the Ghana Most Influential Awards, and we are proud to honour these distinguished personalities who made a huge impact in our society last year. We heartily congratulate all the honourees, and look forward to a memorable awards ceremony with the top-100 most influential personalities later in the year”.