News
Ghanaian Times Journalist, Raissa Sambou wins Int’l Award
A journalist with the Ghanaian Times Newspaper, Raissa Sambou, has won an International award for her contribution towards promoting women empowerment and child protection in her reportage.
The multiple award-winning journalist was recognized this time by the Merck Foundation for winning the third position in West Africa for the online category of Merck Foundation Media Recognition Awards (More than a Mother) 2022.
Her entries included stories on encouraging the participation of more women in African politics, ending violence against women and the need to bring an end to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Northern Ghana and Africa at large.
A story on the need to encourage young girls to develop an interest in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) was also among the entries Raissa Sambou made.
In all, 84 journalists from various African countries were awarded.
They included media practitioners from West Africa, South Africa and East Africa.
At the virtual award ceremony held on Tuesday, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Merck Foundation, Senator Dr Rasha Kelej commended all awardees for their contribution towards ending stigmatisation against childless individuals, creating awareness about hypertension and diabetes, promoting women empowerment and increasing awareness about the need to end all forms of violence against children and women in their stories.
She assured that her outfit would continue to support all activities geared towards protecting vulnerable groups in Africa and unearthing talents in music and fashion design.
Raissa Sambou in her remarks thanked the Foundation for the honour, saying it would encourage her to keep giving off her best in supporting the fight against all forms of violence against women and children.
At the 2020 Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) awards ceremony, Raissa was recognised as the Most Promising Journalist of the Year and also won the child protection category of the awards scheme in the same year.
Ghanaian cinema continues to break boundaries as Vibes The Movie has received an official nomination at the prestigious Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival (TINFF) in Toronto.
This latest international recognition is another proud moment for Ghana and a powerful testament to the creativity, originality, and global appeal of Ghanaian storytelling.
Directed by Big Ghun and starring Jeffrey Nortey, Vibes The Movie evolved from the hugely successful social media series, where the beloved characters Obolo Tui and Lil Pui captured the hearts of millions with their unique blend of rap, comedy, and relatable stories about the everyday struggles and ambitions of Ghanaian youth.
The film has already brought honour to Ghana on the international stage, most recently winning an Outstanding Achievement Award at the American Motion Pictures Festival in the United States.
The Chronicle noted that the film was recognized for its originality, craftsmanship, and storytelling impact among a competitive pool of global entries.
Now, with a nomination at TINFF in Canada, Vibes The Movie continues its remarkable journey from the streets of Accra to some of the world’s most respected film platforms.
The nomination underscores the growing global appreciation for authentic African stories and confirms that Ghanaian filmmakers are making a significant mark in international cinema.
As Vibes The Movie flies the Black Star high in Toronto, Ghana celebrates yet another cultural achievement that showcases the country’s talent, resilience, and storytelling excellence to the world
A prominent member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has broken silence on the deep-seated internal machinations within the party, warning that the continuous victimization of members could severely jeopardize unity ahead of the general elections.
In a post on the party’s internal democratic processes, the former National Entrpreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) boss, Kofi Ofosu Nkansah revealed how personal ambitions were stifled by party elites in the Asante Akyem Central constituency, despite overwhelming grassroots support.
According to the aggrieved party member, the decision to run for the parliamentary seat was not a self-serving agenda but a direct response to a call to service by the local constituents.
“My Asante Akyem Central people loved my politics and approached me to come and serve them as MP,” he stated.
He added that “But my own party elders blocked me and supported the incumbent MP to cheat through the system as if I was an outsider.”
The unfair playing field he revealed led to a massive financial distress. The stalwart disclosed incurring massive debts across two consecutive primary election cycles, alongside other personal challenges.
Despite the systemic sabotage, Kofi Ofosu Nkansah noted that he remained loyal, continuously defending both the NPP party and the government’s policies at all levels.
“Seeing what’s going on in the current polling station elections in several constituencies, it seems not much has changed,” he warned.
“The victimization of those who want to challenge current or former MPs should stop,” he stated.
With the general elections approaching, he cautioned,”You don’t treat party people anyhow and expect unconditional unity for the general elections.”
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
