By Issah Mohammed, GNA
Accra, Nov. 3, GNA – Five journalists of the Ghana News Agency (GNA) have been nominated for the 30th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Media Awards scheduled for Saturday, November 7, 2026.
The nominees are Mr Gilbert Azeem Tiroog, a reporter, and Mr Anthony Adongo Apubeo, Mr James Amoh Junior, Mr Albert Futukpor and Mr Edward Williams, all editors.
Mr Kobby Asmah, Chairman of the Awards Committee, announced the nominees at a press briefing in Accra on Monday, following the committee’s assessment of entries submitted for the various award categories.
The GNA journalists are among 36 nominees drawn from several media organisations, including Media General, Graphic Communications Group, Ghanaian Times, Multimedia Group, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), GHOne TV and Pent TV.
Others are TechFocus24, Business and Financial Times (B&FT), Adwumapa FM, Citi FM/Channel One TV, Asempa FM, Atinka FM/Tobinco Media Group, Radio Ghana and 1957 News, as well as freelance journalists.
Mr Asmah said the committee received 327 entries from 206 applicants and assessed 326 entries across six divisions: print, television, radio, online, digital and new media.
One entry did not meet the requirements for the newspaper layout category.
He said the assessment, conducted between October 7 and October 27, 2026, covered journalistic works published in 2025.
Explaining the assessment process, Mr Asmah said the committee applied a 10-point framework, with each entry scored out of 100 per cent, based on criteria including accuracy and factual integrity, newsworthiness, ethical standards, public impact, originality, clarity, depth of research, balance and technical quality.
“To win an award, you must score 70 per cent for an entry,” he said, explaining the minimum qualifying threshold recommended by the committee.
He said the review resulted in 36 citations across the award categories, culminating in the GJA-P.A.V. Ansah Journalist of the Year Award.
Mr Albert Dwumfour, President of the GJA, said the awards would celebrate the contributions of journalists and media organisations to Ghana’s democratic governance, national development and socio-economic progress.
The 30th edition is being held on the theme: “Celebrating Excellence, Advancing Media Freedom and Combating Hate Speech in the Digital Age.”
Mr Dwumfour said the theme underscored the importance of recognising excellence in journalism while addressing emerging challenges in the rapidly evolving digital media environment.
President John Dramani Mahama is expected to attend as the special guest of honour and keynote speaker, alongside other dignitaries and more than 1,000 invited guests.
The ceremony, initially scheduled for the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre, has been relocated to the Palms Convention at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel.
Mr Dwumfour appealed to corporate organisations, institutions and individuals who had pledged support for the event to honour their commitments.
“We only survive with the support and the mercy of these sponsors and donors. And we are counting on you to redeem,” he said.
He commended the Awards Committee, comprising veteran journalists, for its work in reviewing the entries and selecting the nominees.
The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on November 7.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe