GJA Launches 30th Media Awards, Declares November 7 Ceremony

President Mahama to Deliver Keynote Address; Asantehene, Ga Mantse, Speaker to Attend

By Our Reporter

The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has officially launched the 30th edition of its prestigious Media Awards, marking a significant milestone in the history of the Association and celebrating three decades of recognizing excellence in Ghanaian journalism.
The landmark event, held at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City in Accra on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, was attended by prominent dignitaries including the Chief of Staff, Honourable Julius Debrah; the Minister for Government Communications, Honourable Felix Ofosu Kwakye; and the Minority Leader, Honourable Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
In his address, GJA President Albert Kwabena Dwumfour described the 30th edition as “a significant milestone in the history of the Ghana Journalists Association” that represents “a long-standing tradition of recognizing and celebrating excellence, courage, professionalism, innovation, and impact in Ghanaian journalism.”
The theme for this year’s awards is “Celebrating Excellence, Advancing Media Freedom and Combating Hate Speech in the Digital Age.”

Awards Ceremony Announced
Mr. Dwumfour announced that the 30th GJA Media Awards Ceremony will take place on Saturday, November 7, 2026, in Accra.
President John Dramani Mahama, who is a member of the GJA, will be the Special Guest of Honour and Keynote Speaker at the ceremony. The Asantehene, His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, is also expected to be present, while the Ga Mantse, His Royal Majesty King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, will serve as Chairman of the event.
The Speaker of Parliament has also confirmed his attendance at the ceremony.
“We are bringing Kumasi to Accra. We sent Accra to Kumasi last year, so we are bringing it back,” Mr. Dwumfour said, drawing applause from the audience.
“The presence of these distinguished personalities will add great significance to this milestone edition and underscore the importance to our democracy and national development. I therefore urge everyone to save the date, November 7, 2026.”

327 Entries Received
The GJA President announced that the Association received 327 entries from 206 journalists for this year’s awards, making it one of the highest numbers of entries recorded in recent years.

The submissions comprised:
· 125 entries from online media
· 111 from television
· 46 from print
· 45 from radio
“This strong response demonstrates the continued commitment of Ghanaian journalists to professional standards and the recognition of outstanding journalism. It also confirms the relevance and credibility of the GJA Media Awards as the leading platform for celebrating excellence in Ghanaian journalism,” he stated.

Two New Award Categories
Two new categories have been introduced this year: the New Media Platform Award and the Economy and Financial Story of the Year Award.
The New Media Platform Award is designed to promote professionalism, ethical conduct, and excellence among bloggers and new media practitioners.
The Economy and Financial Story of the Year Award, introduced by the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Johnson Asiama, has already attracted over 10 entries.
“We are grateful to the Governor of the Bank of Ghana for coming on board strongly to support this important category,” Mr. Dwumfour said.
He also called on corporate bodies and institutions to support the GJA Media Awards by sponsoring categories in specialized areas such as energy, sports, the environment, health, education, business, and technology.

Awards Committee Inaugurated
The GJA President announced the inauguration of the Awards Committee, chaired by Mr. Kobby Asmah, a Commissioner of the National Media Commission and former Editor of the Daily Graphic.

Other members of the Committee are:
· Mr. A.C. Wanyane, Senior Editor, Adom FM/Joy TV, Multimedia Group
· Mr. Richard Mensah, Editor, City FM/DT TV
· Madam Ellen Abogado, former Central Regional Director, GBC
· Mr. Christian Akoli, former Senior Editor, Ghana News Agency
· Mr. Nenokwesi Appiah, Senior Photojournalist, Information Services Department
· Mrs. Georgina Naa Makupwetu, Editor, The Spectator
· Mr. Kisli Isiabogu, former Deputy Managing Director, Atinka Media Village
· Mr. Aung Mahama, Managing Editor, The Custodian Newspaper
The Committee will review all submitted works and submit its report and recommendations to the National Executive for consideration and approval of the winners.