Two journalists of Ghanaian Times were on Saturday awarded for their impactful news articles at this year’s Ghana Journalists Awards (GJA) night, held in Accra.
Benedicta Gyimah Folley took home Best Reporter on Gender while Geoffrey Buta was adjudged Best Photojournalist of 2021.
Ms Folley’s news article titled “Cost of Pesticides on infertility” was focused on highlighting the infertility amongst some Ghanaian women and the extent to which they go to bear a child.
Mr Buta’s story also brought to the fore the level of destruction caused by hours of rainfall in the Northern Region.
The New Times Corporation, Ghana News Agency, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), Graphic Communication Group Limited, Despite Media Group among others were presented with special awards for their contributions towards media growth in the country.
In all, about 30 journalists, media personalities and organisations were honoured at the event, which was the 26th edition of the GJA Awards in Accra.
It was organised under the theme, “Walking the Path towards Ghana’s Economic Recovery: The Role of the Media.”
Addressing the gathering, Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC) expressed concern about the delays in the resolution of the murder cases involving journalists in the country.
Currently, he said the murder of Ahmed Suale and Samuel Ennin were still pending and described the situation as worrying.
“It is worrying that the case of Suale has not been solved as of now.
I also recall the murder of Samuel Ennin in 2007, who was the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the GJA, which has also not been resolved as of now,” Mr Boadu-Ayeboafoh noted.
The Foundation Secretary General of the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Ernest Aryeetey charged the “men and women of the media” to make their space available for debates on policy.
By so doing, he further stated, policy would not be shaped by a few persons but rather shaped out of a thorough discussion and process for development.
This year’s event brought together number of dignitaries including the United States of America (USA) Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia E. Palmer and Justice of the Supreme Court (JSC), Yonny Kulendi as well as heads of media organisations in the country.
BY CLAUDE NYARKO ADAMS
