Akordor tops 'em all

spread lead
17/8/09

Mr Kofi Akordor of the Daily Graphic was last Saturday adjudged the Best Journalist of the Year 2008 at the 14th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) awards ceremony held in Accra.
The ceremony, which was on the theme, "Media — Promoting Dialogue, Mutual Understanding and National Unity," also saw 36 journalists and media organisations winning awards for their excellent contributions to national development and the media industry.
For his prize, Mr Akordor, who also won the Best Columnist award, would attend a four-week journalism programme at Cardiff University in the United Kingdom (UK) and a four-week familiarisation tour of some media facilities in the UK. He also received a certificate, a plaque and a laptop.
This year’s awards were dominated by the Graphic Communications Group Limited as eight of its reporters swept nine out of the 36 coveted prizes.
They were Kofi Yeboah (Daily Graphic), Best Features - Print; Maurice Quansah (Graphic Sports), the Best Sports Journalist; Rosalind Amoh (Daily Graphic), Best Environment & Sanitation Reporter; Victor Kwawukume (Daily Graphic), Best Rural Reporting; Charles Benoni Okine (Daily Graphic), Best Telecommunications & ICT Reporter.
Others were Samuel Kyei-Boateng (Daily Graphic), Best Crime & Court Reporting, and Kobby Asmah (Daily Graphic), Best Political & Parliamentary Reporting,
Other award winners included Best News Reporting - Radio, Dominic Hlordzi (GBC); Best News Reporting - TV, Loretta Vanderpuije (GTV); Best News Reporting - Print: Kingsley Hope (Ghanaian Times); Best Features - Radio, Kingsley Obeng Kyere (GBC); Best Features - TV, Peggy Ama Donkor (GTV).
The Best Investigative Reporting went to ace journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas of the New Crusading Guide while Godwin Ofosu Akyeampong of the Ghanaian Times was adjudged the Best Photojournalist with Peggy Ama Donkor of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) winning Best Arts/Entertainment & Domestic Tourism Reporter.
Others included the Best Business/Finance & Economic Reporting, Theophilus Yartey (B&FT); and Best Health & Road Safety Reporter, Solomon Jojo Kobina (TV3).
The rest were Best Reporter on Water Issues, Edmund Smith Asante (Ghanaian Observer), Best Reporter on Disability, Loretta Vanderpuije (GTV).
In the media awards, Joy FM Super Morning Show was adjudged the Best Morning Radio Show, while Daily Guide won the Best Layout and Design (newspaper). The Best Rural Radio Station award went to Radio Progress (Wa) with the Best Rural Radio Station (Runner Up) going to Radio Peace (Winneba).
Others were Best Radio – Akan, Radio Peace (Winneba); Best Radio - Dagbani, Diamond FM (Tamale); and Best Radio - Ga, Obonu FM (GBC).
The Public Agenda Newspaper was adjudged the media activist on Human Rights, while GBC was also given an award for Peace-building.
Honorary awards were presented to Dr K. Bonnah Koomson, Cameron Duodu, Gilbert Ayitey, Harriet Tachie-Menson, Kwartei Shang Simpson and Frazer Ofori-Atta.
The awards ceremony, which was held at the Banquet Hall, State House, saw a host of veteran journalists including past GJA executive members and former presidents of the association.
Among them were Mr Kabral Blay-Amihere, Mrs Gifty Afenyi-Dadzie, Ms Ajoa Yeboah-Afari and Mr Edward Ameyibor.