By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
The 26th edition of the Ghana Journalists Association’s (GJA) prestigious Media Awards has been launched in Accra on Wednesday, 31, August 2022.
The launch of the 26th edition of GJA Media Awards 2022 which took place at the International Press Centre in Accra also saw the Awards Committee being inaugurated.
Addressing the gathering, the President of GJA, Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwumfour revealed that this year’s Awards, which will be held at the Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel on November 12, 2022, will witness a lot of dynamism. Adding that it is going to depart from the previous awards where winners are selected in consultation with the National Executive.
He indicated that the GJA Media Awards is the most important event on the calendar of the Association, hence the need for it to be done well and devoid of controversies.
“Mr. Chairman, this year’s awards promise to be great and exciting and I can assure you that it will also be controversy-free.
I trust this Awards Committee, which is made up of men and women of integrity, to do a good job at the end of the day.
We will ensure that deserving and hardworking journalists are duly honored on that day”, Mr. Dwumfour emphasized.
The theme for this year’s Awards the GJA President revealed is “Walking the Path towards Economic Recovery: The Role of the Media”, adding that “I believe the theme is apt due to the current economic challenges we are facing as a country”.
“…Indeed, there couldn’t have been any better theme.
I hold the view that, as journalists, we have a role to play in ensuring that the economy is stabilized for our common good. We can do this in many ways.
Firstly, as watchdogs of society, we must just ensure that the government or any state institution does not spend outside their budget or engage in any frivolous expenditure. When we focus on these things, we can help the government achieve fiscal stability”.
Mr. Dwumfour later called on all Journalists to support the Association as it plans to organize a free and fair award.
“Nana Chairman, one significant thing about this year’s Awards is the fact that the GJA Journalist of the Year is very competitive as the winner is going to be selected based on competitive entries. This is a departure from the practice whereby the Awards Committee selected a winner in consultation with the National Executive” the GJA President reiterated.
On his part, the Chairman of the short but colourful ceremony, Nana Kwaku Dei, also known in private life as Mr. Ransford Tetteh who launched the Awards urged the members of the Committee to do a great job commensurate with the purpose of the review of the Awards.
The General Secretary of GJA, Mr. Kofi Yeboah who announced the category for this year’s Awards stressed the need for Journalists to present their works for nomination within the stipulated time.
He assured Journalists that this year’s Awards would be a rejuvenated one that will meet the expectations of all.
The Minister of Information’s Representative, Mr. Pelgrave Boakye Danquah in his address stressed that there is a new normal in which people use media channels to propagate bigotry, intemperate language, insults, hoaxes, vilification, and other vices that should be avoided.
He, therefore, called on the media to eschew such practices but practice in a way that promotes development.
Later, the GJA President inaugurated Members of the GJA Media Awards Committee which included Yaa Oforiwaa Asare- Peasah (Chairperson) Vance Azu, Andrew Edwin Arthur, Kwabena Antwi- Konadu as members.
The other members are John Vigah, Harold Roger Quartey, and Loretta Vanderpuye.
