Accra, Aug. 13, GNA - The Ghana Journalist Association (GJA), on Thursday apologised for the mix-up in its advertisement on texting for favourite nominees for the Journalist of the Year and Best Sports Journalist awards.

A release signed by the General Secretary, Mr Bright Blewu, said the advertisement was part of its publicity to generate public interest in its awards ceremony.

It said the text for favourite nominees was designed as a "predict and win promotion" and not a vote that decided who won those awards. The awards committee takes its decision based on a clear criteria based on journalistic values and ethics.

The release said the errors had been noted in the names of nominees published in the Daily Graphic's advertisement of August 13, 2009 adding; "The GJA sincerely apologizes for the mix-up". It said the texting ends on midnight of Friday, August 14, 2009 and there would be a raffle draw of the winning code at the Press Centre on a date to be announced later.

The release said the draw would address all the concerns of those who had predicted different nominees under the same code and winners of the "predict and win promotion" would win mobile phones. It said the GJA was looking forward to greater public participation to further improve its awards scheme.