Two Ghanaians have been presented with the prestigious Society for Maintenance and Reliability Professionals (SMRP) International Leadership award for their exceptional leadership and global impact in advancing industry best practices.

The recipients were the Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, and an oil and gas expert, Mr Gyampobah Mintah Gyampoh.

The 10th event of the SMRP, Caribbean Chapter, was held in Trinidad and Tobago. The awards, which were presented by the SMRP Executive Chairman, Kuarial Rampersad, were received on behalf of the awardees by the Director of Renewable Energy and Green Transition at the Ministry, Seth Agbeve Mahu.

Present at the awards ceremony were Ghana’s High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago, William Anani-Abosti; the Head of Chancery, Charles Marfo, and the First Secretary for Political and Economics, Emmanuella Opong-Preprah.

Awards

Dr Jinapor was honoured for transitioning the erstwhile Ministry of Energy to the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition and his ability to inspire others, drive innovation and champion initiatives that improve safety, sustainability and professional standards.

“Through his contributions to Ghana’s energy sector and his commitment to advancing national policy, Dr Jinapor has earned recognition as a respected leader with both political and academic communities.

His work continues to influence energy reform, sustainability initiatives and economic development, positioning him as a key figure in Ghana’s transition towards a resilient and sustainable energy future,” the citation said.

Mr Gyampoh, who received the SMRP International Supporting Award, was recognised for his contributions in projecting and strengthening the presence of SMRP within the African region.

“At its core, the award represents the spirit of global solidarity and professional excellence, honouring individuals whose efforts ensure that SMRP continues to be recognised as a trusted international institution for maintenance and reliability,” the citation added.

Appreciation

Mr Gyampoh, who was unable to attend the award event, said he was grateful and humbled by the recognition.

He said the award indeed lent credence to the fact that SMRP instilled the culture of maintenance in any territory that it was present.

Mr Gyampoh has more than 34 years of experience in downstream petroleum operations, tribology and lubrication engineering, maintenance and reliability systems, and energy sector capacity development.

He was the Technical Editor and a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the Tribology and Lubrication Technology (TLT) Magazine from 2023 to 2025.

He currently serves as the SMRP International Liaison Officer and Executive Director for Africa, and also the Executive Chairman and Advisory Board Member of the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE – Ghana Chapter).