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Send Ghana awards journalists for hardwork
Mr Albert Futukpor receiving the Online Category award.
The Chief Executive Officer of Social Enterprise Development Foundation of West Africa (SEND West Africa), Mr Siapha Kamara, has tasked media practitioners in the country to continuously impress upon the government to institutionalise the Public Health Emergency Fund.
The Public Health Emergency Fund advocacy is an initiative of SEND Ghana (a subsidiary of SEND Foundation of West Africa) and Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), meant to support the preparedness and healthcare delivery during pandemics in the country.
“We have been advocating government to manifest its commitment to public health emergency which has become part of our health landscape. Therefore, we are not resting until local investment in emergency preparedness at the district and national level is prioritised,” he said.
MrSiapha Kamara was speaking at the second Epidemic Preparedness Journalists Awards in Accra, last Friday.
The event recognised outstanding contributions of Ghanaian journalists in raising awareness on Public Health Emergency and Response Financing.
It was on the theme: “Celebrating Media and Local Level Advocacy Excellence Towards Epidemic Preparedness Financing in Ghana.”
The awardees received citations and an undisclosed amount of money for increasing public and political awareness as well as encouraging sustained media attention on the topic.
Mr Albert Futukpor of the Ghana News Agency received two awards for the Most Impactful Stories and Best Report (Online) category. He was crowned the Overall Best Reporter in 2023.
The runner-up for the online category was Mr Zadok Gyasi of the Daily Graphic.
In the Print Category, journalists from the New Times Corporation – Abigail Annoh and Benedicta Folley – were both awarded for the Best Report in Category.
EIB (GHOne, Starr FM)’s Ridwan Karim Dini-Osman and GTV’s MutalaIssah won in the Broadcast Category; Radio and TV respectively.
Additionally, some non-governmental organisations(NGOs) were also honoured for their contributions to promote EPR messages through their social media platforms.
The In-Country Coordinator of GHAI, Mr Stephen Atasige, commended journalists for their dedication towards quality healthcare delivery in the country and urged SEND Ghana and its stakeholders to continue with the campaign. The ceremony was attended by Members of Parliament, representatives of the Ministries of Finance and Health and some local government representatives as well.
By Yunusah Essandoh