The much anticipated People’s Choice Awards Ghana 2015 was launched on Thursday, 27th November 2014, at a special stakeholder and media event at the Coconut Grove Regency Hotel in Accra.

In addition to industry professionals and members of the media, the event was attended by the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Hon. Dzifa Gomashie, the Deputy Minister for Local Government, Nii Lante Vanderpuye, representatives of the title sponsors of the awards, GN Bank (formerly 1st National Savings & Loans), executives from corporate Ghana as well as other personalities in the Ghanaian telecommunications industry.

The People’s Choice Awards Ghana is a scheme which seeks to award and celebrate individuals and organizations which have contributed as well as those that continue to excel in their various fields towards the development of the Ghanaian Arts and Entertainment industry.

Categories to be awarded in the annual cross-discipline event are People’s Choice Male Musician, People’s Choice Female Musician, People’s Choice Actor, People’s Choice Actress, People’s Choice Movie (Ghanaian language & English), People’s Choice Male Radio Presenter (Entertainment, Culture & Sports), People’s Choice Female Radio

Presenter (Entertainment, Culture & Sports), People’s Choice Male TV

Presenter (Entertainment, Culture & Sports), People’s Choice Female TV

Presenter (Entertainment, Culture & Sports), People’s Choice Song

(Ghanaian Song), People’s Choice Male Sports Personality, People’s Choice Female Sports Personality, People’s Choice Entertainment Journalist, People’s Choice Comedian, People’s Choice Child Star, People’s Choice Celebrity (Ultimate Prize), Lifetime Achievement Award (Individual) and Lifetime Achievement Award (Organization).

Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of Spyder Lee Entertainment, organizers of the awards, Mr. Edwin Kweku Edinkrah, elaborated on the essence of introducing the scheme. “At a time when the Arts and Showbiz fraternity is becoming a lucrative industry in other parts of the world, it is only appropriate to introduce initiatives which will challenge us to be able to compete globally. hence, this awards scheme is to showcase our intent and ingenuity to encourage players in the industry”.

The special guest at the event was the Honorable Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Mrs. Dzifa Abla Gomashie-Ahiaglo, who highlighted the role of government to ensure the development of Culture, Tourism and the Arts industry in Ghana.

The public can from now to 31st December 2014 sent the names of their favourite celebrities who excelled between August 2013 and August 2014 to the shortcode 1446 on MTN, Vodafone and Airtel to be part of the awards.

The nominees will be shortlisted by the awards board together with the awards statisticians, Deloitte, for public voting. The winners will be announced at the Awards Night scheduled to take place on Saturday 21st March 2015 at the Accra International Conference Centre.

Also, the People’s Choice Awards Board which is composed of respected individuals within the Ghanaian Showbiz industry was introduced at the event. Members include Nana Nana Poku Osei (Hammer of Last Two Music Group), Mary-Ann Acolatse (Broadcaster), Kwasi Kyei Darkwah (KKD, Broadcaster), Socrate Safo (Movie Producer), Lawrencia Thompson (PR Specialist & TV Host), Tommy Annan Forson (Broadcaster) and Patrick Yaadar (Movie Producer). Others are Alex Ntiamoah-Boakye (Sports Promoter), Ahuma Bosco Ocansey (Broadcaster & Executive, MUSIGA), Fred Kyei Mensah (Music Producer), Bertrand Nana Turkson (Entertainment Enthusiast), George Williams (Legendary Ghanaian Actor), Arnold Asamoah Baidoo (Editor, Razz Newspaper), Edwin Kweku Edinkrah (CEO, Spyder Lee Entertainment) and Nana Kweku Nduom (Vice President, Business Development, Groupe Nduom).