Dasmani Issifu Laary, Eastern Regional Manager of the Ghana News Agency (GNA), has won the Road Safety Reporting Award at the 29th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Media Awards for his investigative piece, “Deadly Highways: Fixing Ghana’s Silent Epidemic.”

The award, presented on November 8 at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, recognised the investigative piece that exposed systemic causes of road fatalities and proposed reforms to improve safety across national transport corridors.

According to the citation, “Deadly Highways” combined “meticulous research, compelling storytelling, and a commitment to truth,” and “informed the public and inspired action from policymakers and stakeholders.”

The ceremony, hosted by the Asante King, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, was attended by President John Dramani Mahama as Special Guest of Honour.

It marked the first time the GJA Awards were held in the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi, and outside the national capital, Accra.

In his address, President Mahama reaffirmed his government’s commitment to protecting journalists, upholding press freedom, and restoring Ghana’s leadership in media freedom on the continent.

Laary, who joined GNA in 2012 and currently serves as Eastern Regional Manager and senior editor, told reporters, “I have never submitted a story for an award before. I wanted to highlight a national crisis.”

He described being selected from over 321 entries as “humbling.”

He noted that the report has since been referenced by local and international platforms, advocacy campaigns, and policy briefings, which have called for stronger enforcement, improved road maintenance, and data-driven interventions.

In his keynote remarks, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II spoke on the broader responsibilities of leadership and the press.

He cautioned against complacency and the corrosive effects of bad incentives, stating, “We must not go down in history as the generation that stood by.”

He urged journalists and leaders to act with courage and principle and called for a national dialogue to “save the mainstream print media,” warning that unregulated new media could undermine democratic discourse.

The Road Safety Reporting category was one of 36 awards spanning print, broadcast, and digital media, reflecting the GJA’s belief that quality journalism shapes public policy and safeguards lives.

The event drew representatives from the judiciary, government communications, UNESCO Ghana, the diplomatic corps, and hundreds of media professionals.

Laary, who is a PhD candidate in Migration Studies at the University of Ghana’s Centre for Migration Studies, is currently investigating the experiences of migrants in Ghana, with a focus on the expectations and realities of motorcycle taxi drivers in the Accra Metropolitan Area.

His academic research complements his award-winning journalism, reflecting a deep commitment to uncovering systemic challenges and amplifying the voices of vulnerable populations.

He dedicated the award to victims of road crashes and highlighted his ongoing initiative, the Safe Roads Ghana Legacy, which he described as a multi-pronged effort “to transform road safety culture through media, policy, and community engagement.”

Laary’s editorial leadership is grounded in a rich portfolio of professional development across journalism, public policy, health, and strategic communication.