With the clock ticking toward the United Nations’ 15-year target for achieving sustainability across key sectors, the Association of African Sustainability Practitioners (AASUP) is taking bold strides to celebrate the individuals driving this mission in Ghana.
For the sixth time, the Association has recognized and honored outstanding professionals whose work contributes significantly to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year’s awards ceremony once again spotlighted the power of innovation, leadership, and dedication in shaping a more sustainable Africa.
The awards seek to promote sustainable development by recognizing exceptional contributions spanning academia, corporate institutions, and public service.
Despite Ghana’s slow progress in achieving some of the SDGs, particularly Goal 6, which focuses on clean water and sanitation, the recognition of such change-makers serves as a morale booster and a powerful example for others to emulate.
Speaking under the theme Driving Africa’s Prosperity Through Environmental Stewardship and Social Equity, the Chairperson of AASUP and Director of the Engineering Services Department at the Volta River Authority (VRA), Kwaku Wiafe, emphasised the need for a continent-wide commitment to sustainability.
“It is the aim of AASUP to promote sustainability in Africa. We do that by creating awareness among the public and private sectors, as well as civil society, on the importance of integrating sustainability into all policies and strategies, and more importantly, how to implement them effectively,” he stated.
He further underscored the essence of the initiative, noting, “This is not an abstract mission; it is the very foundation upon which our resilient and prosperous Africa will be built.”
Honourees of the 2025 AASUP SDGs Awards
SDGs Africa Most Influential Personalities
- Prof. Amevi Acakpovi – Ag. Vice-Chancellor, Accra Technical University
- Ing. Jonathan Amoako-Baah – Former CEO, Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo)
- Prof. Elsie Effah Kaufmann – Dean, School of Engineering Sciences, University of Ghana; Quiz Mistress, National Science and Maths Quiz
SDGs Lifetime Achievement Awards
- Dr. Johnson Pandit Asiamah – Governor, Bank of Ghana
- Ing. Mark Baah – CEO, Ghana Grid Company
- Rev. Steve Agyei – Director of Contracts, Qatar Foundation, Doha (SDGs Transition Captain)
- Prof. Elvis Asare-Bediako – Vice-Chancellor, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani (SDGs Transformational Leadership)
Institutional and Corporate Recognitions
- University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani – Energy Curriculum Award
- Accra Technical University – ESG Most Impactful University
- Sunyani Technical University – SDGs Teaching and Learning Award
- Kwame Asomaning – Green Finance Personality; CEO, Stanbic Bank Ghana
- Francis Ayisi – SDGs Sustainable Finance Champion; Head of Sustainability, Stanbic Bank Ghana
- K.K. Gyan – ESG Champion; Head of Sustainability and Risk Management, Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund
- Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) – SDGs Company of the Year
- Justina Nelson – SDGs Woman in Sustainability; CEO, Minerals Income and Investment Fund
- Kezia Azumah Esq – SDGs Female Advocacy in Sustainability
- Jacob Linuf – Ambassador of Denmark; SDGs Development Partner of the Year
- Bank of Ghana – SDGs Regulatory Institution of the Year
- Kwame Ntow – CEO, GNPC; SDGs Upstream Personality
- Hon. Emmanuel Kofi Armah-Buah – SDGs Public Service Male Personality of the Year
- Enterprise Insurance Ltd – SDGs Insurance Business of the Year
- Mercedes Maud Naa Dei Ashie – ESG Female Personality; Minerals Income and Investment Fund.
As Ghana deepens its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, initiatives like the AASUP Awards remind stakeholders that progress begins with people, the innovators, academics, and leaders who turn global ambitions into local action. Their work underscores a simple truth: sustainability is not a distant ideal but a daily responsibility shared by all.