Accra, June 2, GNA - The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) on Tuesday, inaugurated a 12-member Awards Committee, charged with the selection of winners for the 2008 annual journalists' awards. They are Mr. Daniel Kwaku Nkrumah, Veteran Journalist, Dr Doris Yaa Dartey, Communication Consultant and Journalism Educator, Alhaji Razak El-Awal, Veteran Journalist, Mr. Joe Aggrey, Veteran Sports Journalist, Mr. Yao Dziekpor, Veteran Journalist, Ms Harriet Techie-Menson, Veteran Journalist and Dr Godwin Tutum Anim, Veteran Journalist and first Ghanaian General Manager of the Ghana News Agency.

The rest are Mr. Emmanuel K. Bensah, Web Journalist and Website Manager, Third World Network, Dr Absalom Mutere, Dean of Journalism studies, African University College of Communication, Mr. C. S. Baubeng, Veteran Journalist and GJA Representative on the National Media Commission, Mr Mike Atsutse, Veteran Journalist and Mr. Amishadai Sackitey, Director of Photography, National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI).

The GJA also inaugurated the Awards Planning Committee, made up of all the Executive members as well as some members of the Association, who would also see to the effective planning of the Award ceremony, which is slated for August 15.

Mr Ransford Tetteh, GJA President said a total of 155 entries had been received by the secretariat so far, but announced that closure of entries had been extended to Friday, June 5, to allow those who had genuine reasons for not meeting the initial deadline. He said entries from members including media personnel who wished to nominate the Journalist-of-the -year, and media houses for special awards would also be welcomed by the Awards Committee. Mr Tetteh explained that as part of promoting professionalism and high journalistic standards, the GJA Constitution requires that the Association organises Awards and periodic competitions. He said the awards therefore served as a barometer for measuring, periodically, the performance of the media and journalists in particular. Mr Tetteh said the inauguration of the two committees was part of the transparent processes embarked upon by the Association and urged members to work towards the achievement of their terms of references. The GJA President acknowledged the continuous support of private and corporate organisations for such events, but said it was the ultimate aim of the association to be self-sufficient through the support of the Ghanaian media to single-handedly organise future events. Mr Tetteh urged mass media related corporate entities such as radio, television, online services, newspapers and magazines to apply for corporate membership of the Association, which is expected to take off in August 15.

He congratulated members of the two committees on their appointments.

Ms Mawuena Adjo Dumor, Corporate Services Manager, MTN, the main sponsors of the Awards ceremony, reaffirmed her company's long term commitment towards ensuring media excellence in Ghana. She said MTN as part of its commitment to the course, extended its media training programme to other parts of the country, to ensure the enhancement of media capacities in various fields of their reportage.

Ms Dumor said the company took pride in rewarding excellence and would do so for deserving media personnel in areas including the Best in Telecommunication reporting, ICT, Physical disabilities and sports. Ms Dumor signed a three-year contract with the GJA on behalf of MTN for continuous support.