Four journalists from the Graphic Communications Group Ltd. have been named among the 38 finalists shortlisted for the 2024 Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards, scheduled to take place at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Saturday.
The four are the Editor of the Agriculture and Education pages, Severious Kale-Dery; the Regional Page Editor, Edmund Smith-Asante, and reporters Timothy Ngnenbe and Justice Agbenorsi.
The final nominees were selected from 321 entries received by the Awards Committee of the 29th GJA/KGL. Awards ceremony.
According to the GJA’s announcement in Accra yesterday, the four are also in contention for the ultimate GJA Journalist of the Year Award, as well as other individual honours yet to be announced.
The announcement was made at a news conference in Accra yesterday.
Nominees
The Secretary to the committee, who is also the Night Editor of the Daily Graphic, Samuel Stephenson Bio, made the announcement yesterday at a news conference.
The other nominees include Nabil Ahmed Rufai, a freelancer, Ridwan Karim Dini-Osman (EIB Network), Albert Oppong Ansah (GNA), Sarah Apenkro (TV3), Rachel Kakraba (GBC), Solomon Gumah (GNA), Samuel Dowuona (TECHFOCUS), Masahudu Ankilu Kunateh (African Eye Report), Godwin Asediba (TV3), Doreen Ampofo (GBC), and Philip Teye Agbove and Justice Baidoo, both of The Fourth Estate.
The rest are Esther Aidoo (GBC), Anass Sabit (Joy News), Issifu Dasmani Laary (GNA), Ohemeng Tawiah (Joy TV), Clinton Yeboah, KNUST; Muftau Nabila Abdulai (Myjoyonline) and James Amoo (GNA).
Others are Peter Agengre (GBC), Rosemond Akuorkor Adjetey (GHONE TV), Agyei Annim (Channel 1 TV), Abigail Annoh (Ghanaian Times), Ebenezer Madugu (Atinka), and Ekosiisen, Asempa FM.
Also named are seven institutions which would be honoured at the gala night.
They are the Multimedia Group, Adom TV, Joy FM, Daily Graphic, Peace FM, Citi FM, GTV, and UTV.
The secretary cautioned that the nominees were not award winners yet.
Ceremony, arrangement
Announcing arrangements for the historic ceremony at the Manhyia Palace, the first to be held in the Ashanti Region under the patronage of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the President of the GJA, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, said buses had been arranged to transport members to Kumasi on Friday and return on Sunday.
The event would be heralded by a cocktail on Friday and a dinner after the ceremony.
The top three winners would be sponsored by Turkish Airlines to Turkey for a treat, with all expenses paid by the airline.
Apart from the headline sponsor, KGL, Special Ice Mineral Water and Tobinco Pharmacy are also on board.
This year's event is on the theme: "Safeguarding Ghana's future: The role of the media in promoting peace, security and the fight against galamsey."
The special guest of honour on the day is President John Dramani Mahama.
Other speakers pencilled for the event are The acting Chief Justice, Paul Baffoe Bonnie, Alex Apau Dadey, Executive Chairman, KGL; Sam George, the Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, and Mr Dwumfour.
Integrity
Mr Dwumfour said the list of the nominees was presented and ratified by the National Executive to ensure its credibility and the integrity of the award system.
"We will do everything to protect the credibility and standard of the GJA awards and we will not sacrifice it for anything", he said.
He commended highly the awards committee for delivering on their mandate in a rather short period.
