Fourteen Ghanaian-Australians have been honoured for their immense contributions to Australia and to Africa.

At an award ceremony at the iconic Sydney Opera House on Saturday, August 25, the 14 were named “living icons” and among the 100 Most Influential Africans in Australia. Ghana had the most award recipients out of the 50-plus African countries.

The award recipients had various professional backgrounds, ranging from academia, the media, social work and entertainment. Following are the Ghanaian award recipients and the citations that accompanied their names:

Mr Martin Kwakwa Sannah: Renowned journalist, head of the Africa Desk at Australian government-owned broadcaster SBS, and editor at Australian Associated Press. Ms Juliana Nkrumah: Founder and advisor of the African Women’s Association, and Co-ordinator of the New South Wales Police Force Multicultural Community Liaison Officer Program. Dr Yeboah Gyasi-Agyei: Associate Professor of Hydrology and Water Engineering, Deputy Director of the Centre for Railway Engineering (CRE) and Chief Investigator of the HEFRAIL Erosion Control Project at Central Queensland University. Professor Jonas Addai-Mensah:Associate Director and a Professor at the Ian Wark Research Institute, University of South Australia, Adelaide. Dr Annette Osei-Kumah: Medical researcher at Robinson Institute, Lyell McEwin Hospital, University of Adelaide. Dr John Asafu-Adjaye http://www.uq.edu.au/uqresearchers/researcher/asafuadjayej.html : Associate Professor, School of Economics, University of Queensland, Australia. Dr Joyce Adu: Project Manager, Capability Planning & Governance, Centrelink (Australia’s Social Security Office). Rev Dr Peter Ringwell Joe-Andah: Minister of religion (Church of Pentecost), Perth. Faustina Agolley http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faustina_Agolley : Television presenter best known for her role as the host of long running Australian music program Video Hits on Channel 10. Host of late night game and gadget review program Cybershack. Afro Moses http://www.afromosesworld.com/about-us.php : Multi -award winning international artist, singer, composer, multi- instrumentalist and teacher. Mr Michael Nketiah Boakye: Communications industry entrepreneur, CEO of Manet Rdio, Adelaide. Ms Dirinda Hafner: Celebrity chef, TV presenter and author. Effie Nkrumah: Theatre director and artist. Rodney Ahenkan http://www.4gvndisciplemusic.com/#/bio/4555177994 : (Better known as “D.I.S.C.I.P.L.E”), Gospel artist and singer.

In a short speech at the ceremony, Prime Minister Julia Gillard said Australia was enriched by the millions of people from across the world who now called Australia home.

Ms Gillard, in a speech read for her by Multicultural Affairs Minister Kate Lundy, said the awards ceremony aimed at challenging stereotypes about African-Australians.

“Sometimes I think those negative perceptions are not only incorrect, but if that’s the only face of African-Australians the public are seeing, it’s just downright wrong”, Senator Lundy said. . Event director John Nze-Bertram told the gathering that the day was significant to the African community, mainly to showcase and appreciate the talent of the award recipients and recognize their immense contributions to Australia’s development.

Mr Nze-Bertram thanked the African and the general Australian community for their warm embrace of the annual award ceremony which had become one of the highlights of Australia’s social calendar.

The five-hour long ceremony was interspersed by a range of performances from musicians, dancers, fashion shows and a dinner

From: Martin Kwakwa Sannah Sydney, Australia .