GJA ignores Journalists protest over award

Accra, Aug. 24, GNA - The Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) on Saturday ignored protest and agitation by some media organisations over the selection and award of the Best Journalists of the Year and conferred the prestigious title on Mr Komla Dumor, formerly of Joy FM. For his prize, Mr Dumor received plague and a scholarship for an Advanced Journalism Course in the Wales sponsored by Unilever Ghana Limited.

Last Thursday, Journalists from Ghana News Agency (GNA), Graphic Communications Group, Ghanaian Times, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Choice FM, The Evening News and the "Concerned Formally Trained Journalists Movement," vehemently protested against the selection of Mr Dumor, for the Award.

Over 13 other distinguished formally trained Journalists were also honoured at the 10th GJA Awards/Dinner Night at the State Banquet Hall attended by Ministers of State, Media Practitioners, MPs, Politicians and a cross section of the public.

A citation accompanying Mr Dumor's award recognised his significant contributions to debates on Joy FM morning show programme as well as the "masterly investigative works that unveiled the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) malpractices" and subsequently, his courageous step in dragging the Trust to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice.

A cross-section of Journalists including Mr Paul Adom Otchere of Metro TV fame who together with Mr Dumor were short-listed for the converted award and other dignitaries trooped out of the hall almost immediately after the announcement of the winner and the short fanfare that followed it.

The action was instantaneous, compelling the Western Diamonds Band to cut short their piece, which was to usher the dignitaries unto the dancing floor for the last phase of the programme for the night.

The Concern Journalists had asked whether it took a single story to become the best Journalist in this country.

They contended "The Journalist of the Year Award should be reserved for practising Journalists with mettle. It means that the idea of instilling professionalism and making the right people to be in the profession is a sham".

Other award winners are; Mrs Isabella Gyau-Orhin from Public Agenda received both the News Reporting Print Media and the Best Economic Reporting awards.

• Mr Daniel Lanquaye from Ghana News Agency received the Best Photo Journalism award,
• Mr Paul Adom Otchere, Joy FM and Metro TV was awarded the Best News Reporting Radio
• Ms Mary-Ann Acolatse of TV3 was awarded the Best News Reporting TV
• Mr Alfred Ogbamey from Gye Nyame Concord received the Best Features Print Media award
• Mr Raymond Archer of the Ghanaian Chronicle received the Best Investigating Reporting.
• Ms Theresa Owusu-Ako of GBC Radio, Best Health Reporting
• Mr K.A.K Densu a Freelance Journalists, the Best Environmental Reporting
• Mrs Sawaratu Alhassan, GBC Radio, the Best Rural Reporting
• Mr Kofi Akodor of the Mirror, the Best Columnists
• Mr John Yarney, Public Agenda, was awarded the Best Reporter of the Arts;
• Nanabanyin Dadson from Graphic Showbiz was given special award for the development of Arts and Entertainment in the country.

All the award winners received a plague and a Desktop Computer as their prize. There was no award for the best Sports, Radio Features and TV Talk shows because according to the Vetting Committee the submissions in these areas were not competitive.