Ghana captain John Mensah, John Paintsil and Michael Essien are among other Ghanaian sports personalities in Britain nominated for prestigious awards set to take place on 24 October. The Inaugural Ghana-UK Based Achievement (GUBA) awards is an Innovation Awards put to celebrate and acknowledge individuals who contribute or provide a service to the Ghanaian community in Britain.
According to the CEO of GUBA, many Ghanaian individuals and businesses don’t receive the recognition they deserve in the UK.
“There are many successful but unrecognised African businesses operating in the UK, and during the World Cup we saw many people who were not Ghanaians supporting our national teamâ€, said Dentaa, founder of the GUBA awards.
Speaking at the Press Launch at the Ghana High Commission last week, John Mensah said, “It is an exciting event and I deserve to be part of it. I have really enjoyed myself and I thank Godâ€.
John Paintsil who plays for Fulham FC and the Black Stars is the Patron of the GUBA awards. He recently set up a charity called the Paintsil Peace Kids Project (PPKP) which is also GUBA's nominated charity.
The charity aims to help African children between the ages of 8 and 12, especially those living in high risk conflict zones through football.
The former West Ham player said, “I love my country and supporting GUBA by being their patron goes hand in handâ€.
Other nominees include Sway, Tinchy Stryder, Sonnie Badu, DJ Abrantee, Alordia, Ama K. Abebrese, Hugh Quarshie, Henry Bonsu and many more. In connection with the awards, Mensah told Johntherock5.com how he felt about his nomination for such an award.
“I am really happy for this nomination and it is my wish that I win this award, but I will not rule out the fact that any of the other nominees can pick up the award as "man proposes but God disposesâ€.