A total of 26 journalists and media professionals have been awarded after completing a workshop on disability reporting in Accra.
Organised by the Media Capacity Building Initiative for Reporting on Disability (MCBIRD), to commemorate the International Day of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) was on the theme: “Leadership and participation of persons with Disability towards an Inclusive, Accessible and Sustainable Post Covid World.”
The selected journalists were trained on how to report and promote fact-based, objective and impactful media content on PWDs through digital, print and broadcast media.
The journalists were tasked to explore areas such as government regulations; disbursement and allocation of resources; culture, norms and beliefs; capacity development and human capital, which largely affected PWDs.
Speaking at the fellowship awards night, the Deputy Minister of Information, Fatimatu Abubakar, said the media should help put a spotlight on marginalised groups in society, especially those with disability so that successive governments would make policies that will be beneficial to PWDs.
She added that government was committed to improving social protection programs such as the National Health insurance programs to benefit all the citizenry, including vulnerable persons.
Ms Abubakar tasked the media to give PWDs the platform to tell their stories, adding that, “let us collectively help bring the issues out and address them accordingly.”
The United States of America(USA) Ambassador to Ghana, Stephanie Sullivan, said the media has an important role in highlighting the stories of marginalised communities.
“I hope with this program, we have started a conversation to improve understanding of the challenges faced by PWDs,” she said.
She expressed the USA’s desire to help develop Ghana’s journalistic core to the highest professional standards.
Ambassador Sullivan congratulated the journalists for their commitment to professional development and reaching their full potential through honing their skills, knowledge and abilities.
Seasoned journalist, Portia Gabor, recommended that the media practiced constructive reporting when it comes to issues facing PWDs.
Awards were presented to selected journalists for their excellent coverage on issues affecting PWDs.
They included best disability reporter which went to Portia Sonia Gabor of Media General, the first runner up for that award was Prosper Kuorsoh of Ghana News Agency, the second runner up went to Daniel AbugreAnyoriga of CitiNewsand the best journalist living with disability award went to Paul Anomah Kordeih of Global Media Alliance.
BY GLORIA NSIAH MINTAH AND JESSEL LARTEY THERSON-COFIE
