Executive Director of Crime Check Foundation, CCF Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng has received GJA award for Best Covid-19 reporting at the 25th Ghana Journalists Association Awards held at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra.
This follows his extensive coverage of the pandemic where he highlighted the plight of incarcerated individuals, persons living with HIV/AIDS and others who had defied lockidown rules to trade because of economic difficulties.
This is the second consecutive time Mr. Kwarteng has received a GJA award. At the 24th awards in 2019, he was adjudged 2018 Best Court and Crime reporter beating other outstanding journalists.
The event was on the theme “COVID-19 and Credible Presidential and Parliamentary Elections: The Media Factor”.
The coveted PAV Ansah Journalist of the Year Award which is the Best Journalist Award of the Year went to a broadcast journalist with The Multimedia Group Mr. Samson Lardy Anyenini.
Also, Regina Asamoah of Atinka TV was awarded the Female Journalist of the Year and Bright Asamoah of the Ghanaian Times awarded the Most Promising Journalist of the Year.
President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr. Affail Monney, said the media had a crucial role to play in ensuring credible elections at all times and the prevalence of COVID-19 must not in any way obstruct that quest.
“We, however, need the support of other election actors such as the Electoral Commission (EC), political parties, security agencies and civil society organizations to help us achieve credible elections in December.”
The Minister of Information, Mr. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah encouraged journalists, to continue with the excellence and responsibilities that they hold especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also urged them to interrogate issues critically ahead of the election.
The Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Anin Yeboah who was the guest of honour, in a speech read on his behalf, noted that the Judiciary was committed to ensuring media freedom in the country.
He said in any ordinary year the media had a significant role to play in society, stating that in an election year however, that role becomes more difficult.
The Chief Justice also called for an enhanced media ethics in the election season; He added that “let’s not indulge in sensationalism. Let’s distance ourselves from misreporting and let’s sanitize our pages and airwaves”.
Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), said in the political campaigns this year, in the absence of mass rallies because of the coronavirus pandemic, the media had an obligation to inform voters about the competing parties and candidates, campaign issues and arrangements governing the electoral process.
“We should offer access to the parties to enable them proffer what they have to the people and help our people to evaluate and access each of them before casting their vote.”
