The selection committee in the forthcoming Peace and Environmental Conference billed for Accra, Ghana, November 7, next week has announced names of 10 eminent Africans and organization as recipient for the 2014 Peace and Environmental Africa Award.
The Award selection committee headed by Dr. (Mrs) Bernice Heloo, a Ghanian deputy minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation and Chief Damfebok Derri, Secretary, Dean, Faculty of Law, Niger Delta University, Yenegoa said the awardees satisfied the committee’s criteria. The awardees, categories and country are listed below:
| S/N | Names of awardees | Categories | Country |
| 1 | Inspector General of Police, Ghana Police Service, Mr. Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan | Award for Security Services in Ghana | Ghana |
| 2 | Dr. Edward OmaneBoamah, Hon. Minister of Communications. | Award for Environment and Good Governance in Ghana | Ghana |
| 3 | His Excellency, ObongGodswillObotAkpabio (CON), Governor of AkwaIbom State. | Good Governance and Exemplary Leadership Award | Nigeria |
| 4 | Channels TV (Sunrise Daily ) | Most Outstanding Development Broadcast Program in Nigeria
|
Nigeria |
| 5 | Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) | Award for the Security Services sector Development in Africa | Ghana |
| 6 | Vanguard Newspapers | Best Sustainable Environment Reporting Newspaper in Nigeria
|
Nigeria |
| 7 | Dr. Rose Mensah- Kutin, Director of Abantu for Development | Award for the Most Outstanding Gender and Development Advocate in Ghana | Ghana |
| 8 | Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin | The Most Outstanding Woman Rights Advocate
|
Nigeria |
| 9 | Barrister Soldier Smooth | The Best Performing Music Artist for Unity Advocacy in Niger Delta, Nigeria.
|
Nigeria |
| 10 | Prince Emmanuel Okeson
City Lights, Accra, Ghana
|
Award for Humanitarian Service in Ghana | Ghana |
Meanwhile in a press statement, the Board of Trustees and Management of Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ coordinated by Comrade Sheriff Mulade has invited the Governor of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, His excellency ChiefGodswillObotAkpabio (CON) to deliver a key note address and the Director Generalof National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Sir Peter Idabor to present a paper titled, “The Effect of Pipeline Vandalism and Crude Oil Spillage on the Environment”at the Peace and Environment Conference, Tagged Ghana 2014, billed for the 6th and 7th November, 2014 at the Conference Auditorium, Koffi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center (KAIPTC), Accra, Republic of Ghana.
Besides, the Honourable Minister, Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Republic of Ghana, Mr. AkwasiOppong-Fosu, will present the lead paper, titled, ‘’Corporate Social Responsibility in Building Sustainable Environment’’.
The key note address and papers to be presented will help to address challenges that may confront oil and gas prospecting/producing countries in Africa; using Nigeria as a case study, especially AkwaIbom state.
The various papers lined up for presentation will go a long way in helping the Ghanaian Government and multinational oil companies operating in the country to manage future challenges on the effects of oil exploitation on its environment.
The wealth of experiences of Governor Akpabio in managing conflicts among the people of AkwaIbom State and multinational oil companies operating in the state made AkwaIbom, one of the most peaceful states during the Niger Delta crises and also the involvement of Sir Peter Idabor in managing oil spill in the Niger Delta will benefit the Ghanaian government and its people in handling any conflict that may arise in future.
This conference will chart a way forward towards redeeming the environment through the presentation of well-researched papers on environmental best practices in contemporary world by renowned scholars and administrators in Africa.
