Osei Kwame Despite, Chief Executive Officer of the Despite Group of Companies and host of Ghana’s leading morning show, Kwame Sefa-Kaye of Peace FM will be awarded at this year’s Ghana’s Most Influential (GMI) awards ceremony.

Despite placed 17 in the poll with his employee KSK placing 47 in the yearly ranking released in May by e.TV Ghana, organizers of the annual Ghana’s Most Influential Awards.

Despite as the owner and Chief Executive Officer of the Despite Group of Companies is believed to have made the list largely due to his entrepreneurial panache. He owns entities like Peace FM, Okay FM, Hello FM and United Television (UTV).

Osei Kwame Despite is also into food production, producing ‘This Way Chocolate Drink’, operating Neat Foods Company Limited (which produces and markets NEAT Fufu, NEAT Banku, NEAT Abenkwan, NEAT Hausa Koko, NEAT Diary Products). Among his franchise is a micro-finance company, Best Point Savings and Loans and the Special Ice line of beverages,

The 6th edition of the award ceremony which is slated for June 30 at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, would also award some sportsmen, business people, entertainment personalities and journalists, clergy and some other politicians among others.

Pastor Mensa Otabil of the International Central Gospel Church who came first on the GMI list for the the second time, investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, technology innovator Bright Simons, Patrick Awuah of Ashesi University, host of the CITI Breakfast Show, Bernard Avle and Osei Kwame Despite, owner of Peace FM are all among Ghana’s most influential (GMI) personalities who will also be awarded on the night for their immense contribution to the growth of our society.

Ghana’s Most Influential Awards is aimed at recognizing and celebrating the top 100 Most Influential Ghanaian personalities as voted by the general public. They consist of individuals whose works have positively impacted society and their community. After public nominations were opened in November, the list was compiled and reviewed by GMI Committee consisting of editors, producers, and representatives of audit firm PKF & Associates.

Public nominations were scored 40% and the GMI Committee scored 60% of the total. Nominees were rated on 5 key metrics and the results were collated and analyzed with the assistance of audit firm PKF. They partnered with e.TV Ghana to authenticate the voting and weighting process.

Managing Director of Global Media Alliance Broadcasting Company (GMABC), Akwasi Agyeman said “This year’s edition of the GMI awards promises to be a night of total celebration. We will be celebrating all those personalities who are in their own way contributing to our society. a lot of work has gone into preparing for this very important awards. For us at e.TV therefore, this awards ceremony is one of the many ways we can contribute to the development of this nation by recognizing and rewarding the men and women who shaped opinions that have in many ways contributed to the growth of our nation,” Mr Agyeman said. Kwame Gyan, Head of Corporate Communications and Brands of Global Media Alliance Broadcasting Company (GMABC) operators of e.TV Ghana says the excitement that have been generated over the awards this year will see a befitting climax. “We are already looking ahead for next year’s awards and in due course we will put forth modalities for same especially as we gathered inputs from the public to enrich the awards”, he said.