GJA climaxes celebration with 28th Awards ceremony

GJA President, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour delivering his address

Journalists across the length and breadth of the country on Saturday celebrated the 75th anniver­sary of the Ghana Journal­ists Association (GJA) with its famous awards to honour deserving practitioners for the year 2023.

This year’s awards marked the 28th edition and attracted high profile guests including the Pres­ident, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Also in attendance were media professionals, gov­ernment officials, the UN Resident Coordinator in Ghana, Charles Abani, and the Chairman of the Nation­al Media Commission, Yaw Boadu Ayeboafoh.

This year’s theme, “75 Years of Excellence in Journalism: The Role of the Media in Democratic Governance and Elections,” highlighted the essential role of the press in pro­moting accountability, transparency, and informed decision-making among the public, especially during election cycles.

Edward Adeti of ‘Report­ers Without Borders’ fame was named the 2023 Paul Ar­chibald Vianney (PAV) Ansah Journalist of the Year for his investigative piece,“Stealing from the Sick.”

His documentary exposed systemic drug shortages at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital.

Jonathan Donkor and Benedicta Gyimah Folley from The Ghanain Times displaying their awards. Photos; Stephanie Birikorang

Other recipients included Jonathan Donkor and Bene­dicta Gyimaah Folley of The Ghanaian Times, as Road Safety Journalist of the Year for his impactful feature on the dangers of defective vehicle tires, and Gender Journalist of the Year for her piece on the persecu­tion of women accused of witchcraft respectively.

Other winners were Be­atrice Senadju from GBC, who took home Female Journalist of the Year, and Edward Acquah of the Gha­na News Agency, who was awarded Komla Dumor Most Promising Journalist of the Year. The Fourth Estate’s Seth J. Bokpe also contin­ued his winning streak by claiming Best Reporter in Democracy and Good Gov­ernance for the third year running.

The president urged the media to tackle the growing challenge of disinformation as the nation approaches the 2024 general elections

 By Stephanie Birikorang