By Joyce Kantam Kolamong
GBC’s Northern Regional correspondent, Joyce Kantam Kolamong, and Health and Science Reporter, Mavis Offei Acheampong, were among 125 top journalists from 36 countries, including Africa, Latin America, Asia, Portuguese and French-speaking states, recognised at the 2024 Merck Foundation Media Recognition Award in Dubai.
Mavis’s compelling story earned her the first position in the Radio Category for West Africa under the “More Than A Mother” project.
Her story calls for the provision of safe spaces for “Sex For Fish” survivors. It highlights the need to empower girls within some communities in the coastal areas of the central region to be assertive and empowered to say no to the practice called ‘Sex for Fish”.
Sex for Fish” is a coded practice where girls are lured into having sex with fishermen in exchange for fish for their upkeep.
Joyce took second place in the Radio Category for her captivating stories under the same project. These include:
-“Breaking Barriers: Unstoppable Hikmatu and Nafisah”
-“Tender Brides: The Silent Epidemic Ravaging Northern Rural Communities”.
– “Cries Behind Closed Doors: Horrying Tales of GBV Deepen Calls for Safe Shelters”.
By winning these awards, Joyce and Mavis have become members of the prestigious Merck Foundation Alumni, joining a network of esteemed journalists who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to storytelling and journalistic excellence.
The recognition highlights their dedication to shedding light on critical issues, such as gender-based violence and women’s empowerment, inspiring meaningful conversations and change.
Chief Executive Officer of Merck Foundation, Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, who doubles as President of “More Than a Mother” Campaign, praised the critical role of media in raising awareness about social and health issues.
She emphasised the importance of media in creating a cultural shift and giving a voice to the voiceless. She noted that media plays a vital role in educating and informing communities about critical health issues, such as diabetes, hypertension, fertility, and gender-based violence.
“Raise awareness about very important conditions that affect our productivity, our economic and social development of our countries. Diabetes and hypertension have become very common condition, even in children, what makes it very sad is that it can be prevented and it can actually alter lifestyle. So if unfortunately, you have it, you can manage it. It’s not a disease, it’s a condition,” she added.
Dr. Kelej also highlighted the importance of health media training, which provides journalists with the right information and skills to deliver it in a simple and creative way that everyone can understand.
“Everyone wants an information. We go to social media or YouTube and then search and might have wrong information, but you can actually give the right information scientifically and socially because you are also attending health media training, where you are addressed by very important experts, so you can get the right information and deliver it in a very simple way that everyone can understand. So I always consider health media training very important. It is very critical to connect with health partners to give you the right information, and you put it in a creative, attractive, simple way.”
The winners were selected from various categories, including print, online, multimedia, TV, and radio. Dr. Kelej congratulated the winners and encouraged them to exchange knowledge and ideas to benefit their communities. They would become part of the Merck Foundation alumni and champions of health and social issues in their countries and continents.
Mavis and Joyce expressed their heartfelt gratitude to GBC for providing them with a platform to showcase their works. They specifically thank the producer of ‘Ghana Today’, Ewurabena Paha, for her meticulous editing and for airing their stories on the esteemed GBC flagship programme.
Additionally, Joyce extends her appreciation to her senior colleague, Mavis Offei Acheampong, for introducing her to the prestigious award scheme.
The Media Recognition Awards 2024 under the themes “More Than A Mother” & “Diabetes & Hypertension”, was launched in partnership with African First Ladies.
