Mr Abdul Hameed Amponsah of Radio Peace in Winneba, who was adjudged the overall winner, received GH¢6,000 while Mr Umaru Sanda Amadu of Citi FM and Miss Nina Abena Antwi-Kusi of the TV3 Network, the first and second runners-up, were rewarded with GH¢3,000 and GH¢2,000 respectively.

In addition, they each received a memento and a certificate of merit.

Three other journalists, Mr Michael Sarpong Mfum of Star FM in Sunyani, Ms Theresa Oppong of Ultimate FM in Kumasi and Mr Cyril Bubu Kilnogo of GBC Radio in Accra, also received a certificate of merit each for writing stories on the SDGs.

Background

The initiative formed part of the MFWA-UN project aimed at encouraging and supporting journalists to mainstream the development of the SDGs.

The project trained dozens of journalists from across the country and some were supported with grants to research, produce and broadcast stories on the SDGs.

Journalists who produced reports were invited to submit their works for consideration and the Award Editorial Committee eventually selected the six awardees.

The award ceremony, which was organised in collaboration with the United Nation Systems (UNS), was to motivate the media to contribute to achieving the SDGs.

Ghana’s SDGs ambassador

Speaking on the theme: “Mainstreaming SDGs in development reporting in Ghana” at the award ceremony, Ghana’s Ambassador of the SDGs, Professor Kwame Karikari, said the write-ups by the journalists signified that the media was monitoring the development of SDGs.

He commended the award-winning journalists and encouraged the media to monitor and report on the SDGs.

Prof. Karikari asked the political parties to make resolving the issues identified in the SDGs part of their agenda, pointing out that Ghana had 15 years to achieve those goals.

The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Affail Monney, who also addressed the ceremony, said the award complemented the GJA award. “Journalists need to be motivated to excel”, he stressed.

He said the award would encourage journalists to work harder.

For his part, the Communication Analyst of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Mr Bossman Owusu, lauded the initiative of MFWA and the UNS and said the SDGs were the people’s agenda because they were driven, implemented and the result was monitored by people.