The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) officially inaugurated its 28th GJA Awards Committee on Thursday, August 1, 2024, in Accra, marking a pivotal moment in recognizing journalistic excellence.
Comprising nine distinguished media professionals, the Committee brings a wealth of experience and expertise to ensure a transparent process for identifying and selecting journalists who have excelled in their field over the past year.
This initiative underscores the theme for this year’s celebration, a significant milestone: “75 Years of Excellence in Journalism: The Role of the Media in Democratic Governance and Elections”.
Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, President of the Ghana Journalists Association, expressed optimism about this year’s awards ceremony, which coincides with the GJA’s 75th Anniversary celebration.
He emphasized the Association’s commitment to organizing successful and controversy-free events, drawing confidence from past accolades.
“The 28th GJA Awards Committee is solid—’What a Solid Committee’. As you know, the GJA has organized two successful awards since the assumption of the legacy regime and has received no backlash after the awards.
We are confident that the 28th Awards ceremony will receive commendation and a thumbs-up, just as the previous one. The previous winners have gone on to make significant contributions to the field of journalism, further validating the Committee’s selection process.
In his acceptance speech, George-Ramsey Benamba, Chairman of the Committee and Chief Editor of Ghana News Agency, reassured stakeholders of a professionally executed event, instilling a sense of confidence in the audience.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank the executives of the Ghana Journalist Association for giving us this opportunity to carry out this special duty. On behalf of the Committee, we promise to use all the powers under our purview to show that the work is professionally executed at the end of the day.”
The committee members include seasoned professionals such as Jamila Akweley Okertchiri, Editor of Daily Guide Network; Loretta Vanderpuye, Regional Director of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation Obonu FM / TV; Joana Afua Mensah, News Editor, United Television (UTV); Isaac Yeboah, Editor, Myjoyonline.com; William A. Asiedu, Head of News, 3FM and Co-host, Sunrise Morning Show on TV3; Nana Kofi Acquah, International Photojournalist; Michael Quaye, Deputy News Editor, Daily Graphic; and Isaac Nuamah Yeboah, News Director, Atinka Media Village.
The Committee’s responsibilities include selecting winners from 36 categories to be recognized at the awards ceremony. These winners are chosen based on their journalistic integrity, the impact of their work, and their contribution to the field of journalism. The awards ceremony will be held on September 28, 2024, at the Accra International Conference Center.
The event aims to highlight and honour journalism’s pivotal role in fostering democratic governance and elections, aligning with the GJA’s longstanding commitment to promoting excellence in media practice across Ghana.
