A Broadcast Journalist with Wisdom FM in Sunyani, Lawrence Yeboah Gyan, last Saturday won the 2025 overall Bono Regional Best Journalist Award at the 4th GJA Regional Awards ceremony held at the plush and imposing Sweet Touch Hotel in Sunyani.
Mr. Gyan, who worked with Sun City Radio in Sunyani before recently moving on to Wisdom FM, a campus radio in the Catholic University of Ghana, also swept two other awards – Children’s Advocacy Award and the Best Health and Medical Care report.
His reportage titled: “When the dead are no longer sacred: A cultural and public crisis in Ghana” won him the 2025 Regional Best Journalist Award. The incisive, soul-pricking and conscience awakening exposè about how some people, especially a section of the youth, deal with corpses these days during funereal celebrations serves as a wake-up call to Ghanaians, before a huge health calamity befalls the nation.
Last Year’s Regional Best Journalist award winner, Biiya Mukusah Ali of the Daily Graphic grabbed two awards this year. He won the Best Tourism report (print category) and Best Agroecology and Agri-business award.
Ghanaian Times’ Bono Regional Correspondent, Daniel Bruce Dzirasah went home with the Best report on mining as well as the Best Development-focused report.
Other award winners were Claude Kumi Abisa (TV3) – Tourism (Electronic); Emmanuel Kwadwo Gyan, Sky FM – Best Radio (electronic) documentary; Precious Semevoh of Joy News – Climate Change and Green Transition; Edward Adjei-Frimpong, a freelancer – Business & Finance category; Michael Sarpong-Mfum (Channel One TV) Education; Samuel Kumi, Service Radio – Best Morning Show Host and Osei Kwadwo Laar (Sun City Radio) – Best Newscaster in Akan.
Special awards
There were seven special awards. The Late Francis Owusu Ansah, a dedicated and experienced journalist, who passed away in December last year was honoured posthumously for his contribution to the media practice.
Mr. Charles Koomson, a veteran Journalist and a former Regional Manager of the Ghana News Agency and Dr. Victor Leonard Amengor, a former Regional Director of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), were honoured for their invaluable contribution to the GJA and the promotion of responsible journalism over the past decades.
The Bank of Ghana, the Nsoatreman Community Bank and Newmont Ahafo Development Foundation (NADeF) were also recognized for their immense support to the GJA and its activities.
Jasmine Akwaboah of Moonlite FM also went home with a citation for being the only female participant in this year’s regional GJA awards competition by filing in three categories.
Attendance
High-profile personalities were at the occasion in their numbers. They included the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu-Nketia; the MP for Banda and Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Ahmed Ibrahim; the Bono Regional Minister, Joseph Addae Akwaboah, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Entrepreneurial and Innovation Programme (NEIP), Eric Adjei and the Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive, Vincent Antwi-Adjei.
Also in attendance were representatives of Newmont Ahafo Development Foundation (NADeF), the Bank of Ghana, Nsoatreman Community Bank, ActionAid Ghana and the Bono Regional heads of NADMO and DOVVSU, among several others.
Gong-beaters
Addressing the programme, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Prof. Elvis Asare-Bediako, described journalists as the modern-day equivalent of traditional Ghanaian gong beaters, entrusted with the responsibility of informing society, shaping public consciousness and guiding communities.
The Vice-Chancellor, who was the Guest Speaker for the occasion, said just as gong beaters in traditional Ghanaian societies used their voices to announce important decisions, summon communities and communicate events, journalists today wield the power of information to influence public discourse and the direction of society.
According to him, the influence of journalists went beyond simply reporting events, describing journalism as a form of leadership exercised through “the power of words, the courage of truth, and the responsibility of influence.”
He said when journalism was practised with ethics and integrity, it could promote social progress, strengthen democratic institutions, foster stability and ensure accountability and transparency.
“Every journalist is a leader, guiding public thought, shaping civic behaviour, and inspiring collective action,” he said.
Prof. Asare-Bediako, however, cautioned journalists against sacrificing accuracy and professional standards in the pursuit of speed, popularity or sensational headlines.
Galamsey
Mrs Regina Benneh Siaw, Bono Regional Chairperson of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), called for concerted action to prevent illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, from gaining a foothold in the Bono Region.
She said the destruction of rivers, forest reserves and farmlands through illegal mining posed a serious threat to the region’s future and required urgent action from traditional authorities, state institutions, security agencies and other stakeholders.
According to her, journalists could not claim to be catalysts for societal transformation while remaining silent on issues that threatened the wellbeing and future of communities.
“One such major concern is the alarming spread of illegal mining, galamsey, in the Bono Region. Our rivers are being polluted, our forest reserves are being depleted, and our fertile farmlands are being destroyed,” she said.
The ceremony was held under the theme: “Ethics, Integrity, and Impactful Journalism, Essential Ingredients for Societal Transformation.”
The National Chairman of the NDC, Mr. Asiedu-Nketia and his entourage supported the programme with GH.c 86,000 cash and pledged to assist the Regional GJA to get an office accommodation to facilitate its work.
(Story by Richard Kofi Boahen, Sunyani)
