Entrepreneurs Foundation of Ghana (EFG), has opened nominations for UT Ghana Entrepreneur Awards Gala 2012, third edition.
The dead line for the entries to be nominated for the Ghana most prestigious awards for entrepreneurs is February 10, 2013.
EFG is the annual organiser of the event with UT Bank as the headline sponsor.
A statement issued in Accra on Friday and copied to the Ghana News Agency by Mr Ato Sam Gaisie, Founder and President of EFG said the award recipients would be honoured at a dinner scheduled for May 4, at the Banquet Hall, State House in Accra.
The theme for the 2012 awards is: "Celebrating entrepreneurship, the engine of economic growth."
EFG launched the awards in 2010 to recognise outstanding Ghanaian and non- Ghanaian permanent resident entrepreneurs to serve as motivation for budding entrepreneurs in sustaining economic growth and generating employment in Ghana.
The key objectives of the awards are to reward the best entrepreneurs in the Ghanaian business community, by showcasing the business leaders and contemporary entrepreneurial spirit and also inspire other Ghanaians to undertake the entrepreneurship path of success.
"Entrepreneurs continue to be the engine of growth in Ghana and it is vitally important that their efforts and contributions be recognised, encouraged and celebrated," the statement said.
It said the judging criteria would include an assessment of entrepreneurial spirit, financial performance and growth, vision and innovation, personal integrity and commitment, strategic marketing and corporate social responsibility involvement in Ghana's economic growth.
A panel of judges will be invited to review the nominations and decide winners in the various categories.
The award categories are: Overall Best Entrepreneur of the Year 2012, Entrepreneur Hall of Fame, Lifetime Entrepreneur Achievement, Special Entrepreneur Achievement, Serial Entrepreneur, Outstanding Entrepreneur Woman Entrepreneur, Young Entrepreneur, Most-Promising Entrepreneur and Emerging Entrepreneur Award.
Enterprises Award Categories are: Best Entrepreneur in Manufacturing and Micro/Small Industry, Agri-Business, Financial and Non Financial, Pharmaceutical and Health care Petroleum and Gas, Electronic Media, Advertising and Print Media and Publishing.
Others are Food and Beverages, Transportation and Logistics, Automotive, Hospitality Industry, Airline Travel and Tourism, Electrical Engineering, Property and Real Estate Development, Building and Civil Engineering. Education, Information Technology and Telecommunication.
Thirty Ghanaian Entrepreneurs were awarded last year, with Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong Executive Chairman, of Zoomlion and Jospong Group of Companies being adjudged the Overall Ghana Best Entrepreneur for 2011.
Nomination Forms and information can be downloaded from the website: www.geawards.org