An assistant superintendent of prisons who handles public relations for Ghana’s Prisons Service has taken first place in a regional writing competition organised by the German philanthropic Merck Foundation. ASP Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah beat rivals from Nigeria and Sierra Leone, who came second and third respectively.
The award was presented at the Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel in Accra by Ghana’s former first lady, Lordina Dramani Mahama, and the foundation’s CEO, Senator Dr Rasha Kelej. Also present were Gender Minister Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, presidential legal counsel Marietta Brew, and deputy education minister Clement Abass Apaak.
Ankrah, who is also a member of the communications team for the International Youth Network on UN Security Council Resolution 2250 and a former media director, has now won two international awards and one national award. He has undergone several capacity trainings and belongs to the PRINPAG professional body.
He dedicated the prize to the Ghana Prisons Service and the state-owned Spectator newspaper, where he has been a contributor.