The 28th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Media Awards was successfully held on Saturday, September 28, with many media practitioners being honoured for their works in impacting lives and shaping the country.
The most coveted award, P.V. Ansah Journalist of the Year was awarded to Edward Adeti, who works with Media Without Borders, for his remarkable contributions to journalism via investigative reporting.
Mr Adeti’s works according to the GJA, has often exposed corruption and misconduct in both public and private sectors.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Adeti expressed deep gratitude to the GJA, his colleagues, and his audience. He dedicated the award to all journalists who continue to fight for truth and justice despite the challenges and risks involved in their work, as well as reaffirmed his commitment to using his platform to hold power to account and advocate for transparency in governance.
Other media practitioners who were recognised for their immense works include; Media General’s Godwin Asediba who won Health Journalist of the Year, Clinton Yeboah (Student Journalist of the Year), Fred Duhoe (Best News Reporter in the Television), Bill Eshun (Disability Reporter of the Year), Castro Senyalah (Court And Crime Journalist Of The Year).
On his part, GJA President Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, expressed gratitude to Ghana’s journalists and encouraged them to keep up the good work. He also used the opportunity to drum home concerns that affects the country’s existence as well as its democracy.
Albert Kwabena Dwumfour urged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to utilize the remaining three months of his second term to address the ongoing crisis of illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
He reminded the President of his commitment to halt galamsey upon taking office, noting that this promise remains unfulfilled. He further proposed declaring a state of emergency as part of the measures needed to combat the galamsey
In his address, he said, “We are aware that some time ago, Mr. President, the father of the nation made a promise to stop galamsey but regrettably that promise has not been fulfilled. You are barely three months until the end of your administration and we are hopeful that you will deal with the situation before you leave office.”
Mr Dwumfour also urged government, the judiciary, and the Ghana Police Service to release the remanded protesters of the Democracy Hub group. His call comes in response to the detention of 54 protesters, with 9 in prison custody and the remainder held by the police, following clashes with security forces during a recent demonstration in Accra by Democracy Hub to address the issue of galamsey.
“I want to commend the Ghana Police Service for exhibiting a high level of professionalism and restraint during the recent three-day protest against Galamsey by some individuals. We note some excesses and provocations that occurred during the demonstration, and the GJA condemns these excesses,”
“We also believe that remanding the protesters for two weeks is too extreme and does not send positive signals when it comes to protecting human rights,” he added.
President Akufo-Addo, on his part, urged Ghanaian journalists to avoid spreading misinformation that could undermine the electoral process. He stressed the significance of integrity in reporting, fairness in coverage, and providing voters with accurate information to make informed choices ahead of the 2024 general elections.
The president described journalists as “gatekeepers of truth,” emphasizing the need to prioritize facts over falsehoods. He recognized the media’s critical role in past elections but also warned of the dangers posed by “fake news and sensationalism in the digital age,” which can distort the electoral process.
“I remain deeply committed to ensuring that the media in Ghana remains free, vibrant, and independent. Your work is essential to the strength of our democracy, the integrity of our elections, and the progress of our nation,” he added.