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Young enterprising and entrepreneurial Ghanaians between the ages of 15 to 30 would now gain national recognition for exceptional achievements in their fields of endeavor. This was made known by Vice President John Dramani Mahama when he launched the first ever National Youth Achievers Awards (NYAA) which is aimed at recognising the efforts of Ghanaian youth in their fields of specialisation. There are 17 categories in all and would be scrutinized by a jury of 10 high profile men and women which include Professor Attuquaye Okine, Moses Foh Amoaning, Dorothy Gordon, Mike Agyekum Addo, Esther Cobbah amongst others. It would be handled by events giant Charterhouse and is being sponsored by Ghanaian IT firm RLG. The event is organised under the Patronage of the vice president, Mahama MAIN OBJECTIVES OF NYAA � To acknowledge and bring to the fore exceptional achievements of the youth in creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship, patriotism and leadership in the various sectors of the socio-economic life of the country � To make excellence and achievement a national value, starting with the youth. � To empower the youth for community activism, National Development and sustainable peace. � To create an image of the ideal Ghanaian youth and make them role models to other youths and standards of performance they can benchmark. TARGET PARTICIPANTS � Youth from age 15 � 30 years across all sectors NYAA CALENDER � 3rd July 2012 � Launch and start of nominations � 27th July 2012 � Nominations close � 29th August 2012 � Awards night. CATEGORIES � Award for Agriculture : Award to a Ghanaian �youth or youth group� who/which has been actively engaged in Agriculture especially in the rural areas and is contributing significantly to the socio-economic development of his community � RLG Entrepreneurship Development Award : Awarded to a Ghanaian youth who has employed his entrepreneurial skills in undertaking a project that is benefiting Ghanaians or is likely to benefit the country now or in the near future. � Award for Young Professionals : Award to a youth who is registered and regulated by his/her professional body and who by dint of hard work has been an icon for his contemporaries as a young professional and is a source of inspiration to the youth. � Award for Science : Awarded to a Ghanaian Youth who has made a remarkable scientific discovery or undertaken a scientific research, analysis or experiment the result of which will benefit the Ghanaian Society and the world in general in the not too distant future � Sports Award : Awarded to a Ghanaian male and female youth who has achieved a remarkable and consistent feat in sports in Ghana or elsewhere and is a role model to his peers. � Award for Arts :Awarded to an individual or a creative group whose contribution to arts has won the attention of Ghana and the world � Award for Leadership : Awarded to a Ghanaian youth whose sterling achievements sets him apart from his peers and is consistent, selfless and worthy of Leadership. � Award for Academic Excellence (JHS, SHS, TERTIARY) : Awarded to a Ghanaian youth who has distinguished him/herself over and above the average intellect in the educational field through his/her excellent academic achievements, consistent distinction in performance and is a role model for his peers. � Literary Award: Awarded to a Ghanaian youth who has been involved in literary activities in his school or community by producing works that are likely to contribute to the rich store of a Ghanaian literary heritage. � RLG ICT Innovator Award: Awarded to an individual who has pioneered practical and cost-effective methodologies in information, Communication and Technology to contribute to the social and economic development of Ghana. � Award for Youth Personality: Awarded to an outstanding youth whose sterling achievements ie. Morality, respect and environmental consciousness supersede that expected of his peers and therefore sets him/her apart as a role model for recognition. � Award for Business Excellence: Awarded to a youth who has made tremendous impact in the business industry by setting up a legally registered company and providing consistent service to the public while considering responsible environmental and social issues. � Award for Culture: Awarded to a Ghanaian �Traditional Culture Youth Group� or individual whose activities have portrayed authentic Ghanaian culture and are worthy ambassadors of Ghana culture home and abroad. � Award for Music: Awarded to a Ghanaian music group or individual whose activities have portrayed authentic Ghanaian music home and abroad. � Award for Grassroots and Rural Community Development: Awarded to a youth/youth Group whose activities focus on the rural areas, identifying challenges confronting the youth in these areas and has found solutions to the challenges, thereby becoming an inspiration to other youth. � Award for Financial Excellence: Awarded to a young Ghanaian youth whose ideas and efforts have contributed to the growth of the Ghanaian financial sector as in audit service, taxation, and support for acquisition of assets. � Special Award: This a special award presented to a physically challenged person who, despite his/her limitations, has achieved a remarkable feat. THE AWARD PACKAGE � A specially designed plaque will be presented to the winners of the various categories on the night of the event. � Award Presentation will thus include: � plaque, citations, a hamper of corporate products (RLG Computers for Students) and a scholarship package to help pursue their efforts � Internship for the RLG Innovators in ICT award THE CALL FOR ENTRIES � There will be a general request for nominations of deserving Ghanaians. Any Ghanaian National aged15�30 is eligible to apply for the National Young Achievers� Awards. � This will be done through the official website. Applicants may fill online applications or pick application forms at participating Radio Stations and RLG offices nationwide. Any deserving youth should be able to apply through any of these processes. � Applications or nominations may also be submitted at the Participating Radio Stations, or RLG offices Nationwide. SHORTLISTING OF ENTRIES � Submitted entries will be shortlisted based on specific criteria. � The Awards are meant to encourage and garner as broad participation as possible. However, the awards are only given to those who have proven their outstanding achievements in categories being awarded. � When the jury feels that there are no applications that merit the award for a particular category, no award will be given in that category, regardless of the number of applications. THE SELECTION TEAM � Accomplished individuals from the relevant sectors who will form the Jury � Researchers � Statisticians THE JURY 1. Emmanuel Dei Tumi � CEO of Foundation For Future Leaders 2. Prof. Robert E. Hinson - Head, Dept Of Marketing, & Customer Management, University Of Ghana Business School, Legon. 3. Dorothy Gordon - Head, Kofi Annan ICT Centre 4. Mike Agyekum Addo - CEO, Kama Industries 5. Moses Foh � Amoaning - Barrister & Consultant 6. Prof Emmanuel K Larbi - President, Regent University 7. David Afugani - COO, Rlg Ghana 8. Alhassan Andani - MD - Stanbic Bank Ghana 9. Prof Atukwei Okai - Secretary -General, Pan African Writers� Associaton (PAWA). 10. Esther Cobbah - CEO, Stratcomm Africa