Africa Achievement Awards Moves Venues

LOS ANGELES -  Major American event celebrating Africa’s position on the global scene is moving to the African side of the Atlantic.

The Africa Achievement Awards, which have been presented in the U.S. since 1991 and have become the principal part of America’s observance of the Africa Day celebrations, will for the first time in its 18 years move from its traditional Beverly Hills, California venue to Africa. This year's event is honoring the Republic of Ghana and to highlight this honor the Awards Gala will be held in Accra, Ghana’s capital.

"This is in recognition of Ghana's role in the emancipation of the rest of Africa and in its influence in the civil rights and Pan-African movement" according to C. Charles Anyiam, Chairman of the Organizing Committee and the Editor-in-Chief of The African Times-USA, producers of the event. "We are pleased to announce that Accra unanimously received the votes of all the members of our Board. The cultural dynamism and the progress report of Ghana, as a nation both on the political and economic front also formed our decision."

A high-powered U.S. delegation of civic and business leaders, entertainment and sports personalities is slated to join and become part of the event, this in addition to delegates from various African countries - Nigeria, South Africa, Senegal, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Gabon and Cameroon.

The two-day event will open May 26 with an Investment and Partnership Expo under the aegis of the Africa-U.S Chamber of Commerce, the Ghana-U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Ghana-South Africa Chamber of Commerce. "The focus at the Expo will be on forging partnerships between U.S. businesses and their African counterparts. Africa is open for business. Our organization has continued to be in the forefront of strengthening trade relationships between the continent and the U.S. especially in the area of technology transfer which is badly needed," Mr. Anyiam said.

This year's honorees will join past recipients such as President William Jefferson Clinton, President Nelson Mandela, President Olusegun Obasanjo, Archbishop Nelson Tutu, the late Miriam Makeba, US Congresswomen Maxine Waters and Diane Watson, Retired Congressman Mervyn Dymally, Dr. Michael Beckwith, Stevie Wonder, National Geographic and Ethiopian Airlines in the pantheon of those who have achieved on behalf Africa to warrant recognition.

The event is produced in partnership with the South African High Commission in Ghana and the Africa Union and will take place May 26 & 27 at the La Palm Beach Royal Hotel and Resort in Accra.
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The excellence of Africa’s past, present and future is measured by the achievements of her people and support by her friends. Each year there are those who distinguish themselves in service and achievement to warrant recognition and it is the Africa Achievement Awards that honor them.

Past Honorees include: President Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Mariam Makeba, Stevie Wonder, President William J. Clinton, President Olusegun Obasanjo, President Abdoulaye Wade, First Lady Chief (Mrs.) Stella Obasanjo, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Congressman Mervyn Dymally , Dr. Mathias Fobi, Rev. Dr. Michael B. Beckwith, Dr. Dora Nkem Akunyili, and many outstanding and highly deserving organizations: National Geographic Society Television, Western Union International, Association of Nigerian Physicians In The Americas and the National Broadcasting Company-NBC.

The Africa Achievement Awards are produced and presented on behalf of the Celebrate Africa Foundation by The African Times Publications, publishers of The African Times/USA national news journal, published and edited in the USA since 1989, and acknowledged as “Africa’s Influential Media Voice in America.”