NIGERIA: Balafon Awards

Cross River State governor, Ben Ayade, Ethiopian Airlines and Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja are among winners in various categories of the keenly contested Balafon Awards powered by organisers of the Accra Weizo event in Ghana.

Gov. Ayade won Tourism man of the year as Ethiopian Airlines as well as Arik Air and Emirates won the award Top interanational airlines in Ghana, and Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja; Eko Hotel and Suites Lagos; Sheraton Lagos Hotel, Oriental Hotel and, Intercontinental Hotel Lagos won in the Top 5 Hotels in Nigeria category.

The Balafon Awards, according to organisers is an award targeting people in travel business in West Africa.

Mr. Ikechi Uko told Arts & Ideas that the competition is based on the fact that there is need to encourage travel business in West Africa. He said judges - comprising journalists from Nigeria and Ghana - presented a shortlist of contenders in the various categories to public voting through which winners eventually emerged.

The series, whose name originates from a francophone traditional xylophone, had previously held in Lagos as part of the annual travel and tourism fiesta, Akwaaba.

· Best Airlines in West Africa

Arik, Asky, Air Peace

· Top 10 Hotels in West Africa

Eko Hotel and Suites Lagos ,Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja, Intercontinental Hotel Lagos, Labadi Beach Hotel Accra, La Palm royal Beach Hotel Accra,Kairaba Hotel Gambia, Radisson Blu,Hotel Lome, Wheatbakers Lagos, Lou Moon Ghana ,MovenPick Ambassador Hotel Accra.

· Top 10 Hotels in Ghana

Labadi Hotel, LaPalm Royal Beach Hotel, Movenpick Ambassador Hotel, Golden Tulip Hotel Accra,Holiday Inn, African Regent, Kempinski Gold City, Tang Palace, Royal Senchi Resort Akosombo, Lou Moon,

· Top 5 Hotels in Nigeria

Eko Hotel and Suites Lagos, Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja, Sheraton Lagos Hotel, Oriental Hotel and Intercontinental Hotel Lagos

· Top International Airlines in Ghana

Emirates, Ethiopian, Arik Air

· Tourism Man of The Year in Ghana

Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu- Adjare, Minister of Tourism , Ghana; Kwame Ofosu Bamfo, Swiss Spirit Alisa Hotel Accra and Tourism Ambassador, Abeku Santana

· Tourism Man of The Year - West Africa

Gov. Ben Ayade, Cross River State; Obinna Ekezie, CEO Wakanow and Elizabeth Ofosu- Adjare Minister of Tourism, Ghana

· Aviation Man of The Year in Ghana