Three institutions donate towards GJA awards

The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has received donations from three institutions towards the organisation of the 2019 GJA Awards to be held on October 24, 2020.

FBN Bank Ghana Limited, Plan International Ghana, and Ashanti Foam Factory Limited (Ashfoam) have each presented cheques for GH¢20,000 to the association.

This year’s awards ceremony, the 25th since its inception, will be held at the Movenpick Hotel in Accra, with the Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Anin Yeboah, as the guest speaker.

The event will honour journalists who excelled in their various fields during 2019.

Plan Ghana support

Justice Agbenorsi and Cynthia Addi-Chanagea report that at a ceremony to make the presentation at the International Press Centre in Accra yesterday, the acting Head of Programmes of Plan Ghana, Ms. Vera Abbey, explained that this year’s donation was not only to support the child protection category of the awards, but also to mark the beginning of a stronger collaboration between GJA and Plan International Ghana.

“We are of the highest expectation that we will have other engagements beyond this donation to see to what extent we will be able to collaborate strongly for the betterment of the children in Ghana that we all serve,” she said.

Ms. Vera Abbey (2nd right) presenting the cheque for GH¢20,000 to Ms. Linda Asante-Agyei. Looking on are Mr. Abubakari Adamu, the Child Protection Focal Person (right) and Mr. Alberta Dwumfuor, Organising Secretary of the GJA (left) Picture: ALBERTA MORTTY

Ms. Abbey also announced that October 8, 2020, as International Day of the Girl Child, was worth celebrating with an important entity like the GJA, and invited the executive body of the association to a planned event to commemorate the day.

Ashfoam

The Head of Marketing and Communications of Ashfoam, Mr. Nana Yaw Ampem-Darko Antwi, acknowledged the efforts of journalists towards the development of the country, stating that Ashfoam was proud to associate itself with the GJA.

Mr. Antwi further announced that the foam manufacturer would support the Journalist of the Year with an L-shape couch and a queen-size high density mattress, while the Promising Female Journalist of the Year would receive a queen size mattress from Ashfoam.

The best agriculture reporter, he said, will also be given a queen-size mattress from the company.

“We at Ashfoam Ghana limited have and continue to appreciate the hard and risky work of the Ghanaian journalists as they go beyond limits to gather and bring news information to us all in times of rain, shine, cloud, wind, climbing mountains, where floods abound, conflict areas and from the farms,” he stated.

Mr. Antwi further promised that the company would dedicate a separate GH¢30,000 to give the GJA office building a facelift by painting the entire edifice with the high-end SUVINIL paint.

FBN Bank

The FBN Bank Ghana Limited donated its cheque last Monday, reports Nana Konadu Agyeman.

Presenting the cheque, the Managing Director of the bank, Mr. Victor Yaw Asante, said despite the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company was determined to support the GJA, saying it considered the media crucial partners.

Mr. Victor Yaw Asante (3rd right) presenting a dummy cheque to Mr. Affail Monney (3rd left)

He urged the GJA and the media in general to effectively live up to their roles of educating, informing and entertaining the citizenry.

He said as a bank, it also had a commitment to play its role in the development of the economy and the nation.

Appreciation

Receiving the cheque, the GJA President, Mr. Affail Monney, said the role of the media was critical in putting the country’s economy in sound position.

He pointed out that one important element needed to make the country’s economy to recover fast was the involvement of the media in the national recovery programme.

The GJA President, therefore, stressed the need for corporate entities to collaborate with and support the media to stay in business to help in the recovery agenda, given the havoc COVID-19 was causing to businesses.

Mr. Monney commended the bank for keeping to its promise to support the association in the organisation of the awards ceremony, emphasising: “At a time many organisations are dodging support for others, the FBN Bank has opened its doors for the GJA by donating GH¢20,000 to support this year’s awards.”

The Vice President of GJA, Mrs. Linda Asante-Agyei, also expressed profound appreciation to Plan International Ghana and Ashfoam for their support to the association, particularly during this difficult moments of the COVID-19 pandemic.

She acknowledged that although COVID-19 had affected everything, including business, the two companies had maintained their commitment to the GJA in the midst of the pandemic through their separate supports to enable the GJA to honour and reward deserving journalists.