Mr Ransford Tetteh, President of Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) on Thursday noted that the faith of Journalists in the awards competition was growing judging from the number of entries received.
At a press conference to introduce members of the 15th GJA Awards Committee he said; "The pile of envelopes in front of me to my right is a record 271 entries and nominations. It is 52 more than last year's record of 208."
Mr Tetteh said these developments were an indication that the awards competition was growing in size, and added; "We are convinced that the awards are helping to motivate
journalists in Ghana and indeed the Ghanaian media to aspire to high standards and professionalism".
He said exhibition of the entries received and inauguration of the committee was part of the
transparency process.
The 12-member award committee would examine and evaluate entries of contestants and
nominations received from members of the public.
This year's awards ceremony slated for August 21 at the Banquet Hall has added nine new awards.
These are; Best Report on Small and Micro Scale Enterprises; HIV and AIDS; Development Journalism; Crime and Court Reporting.
The others are; Hygiene and Sanitation, Best Report on Education, Anti-Corruption, Best Cartoonist and Democracy and Peace Building awarded to media houses.
Mr Tetteh said the ultimate aim for the GJA in the future was to be able to organise a well-developed and self-sufficient awards ceremony without any hustle.
He, however, expressed gratitude to friends of the media, non governmental organisations,
governmental organisations and corporate organisations for the support they had offered the GJA.
He said GJA was convinced that members of the committee would live up to the task.
Mr Edward Ameyibor, Former GJA President, on behalf of the committee said the task ahead was huge with regards to the entries but promised that they would do a good job.
"We would be fair, just and give awards to deserving ones," he said expressing the hope that the ceremony would continue to encourage high media standards in Ghana.
Other members of the committee are: Dr Doris Yaa Dartey, Communication Consultant, Dr Absalom Mutere, Dean, Journalism Studies, African University College of Communications (AUCC), Mr Mike Atsutse, Veteran Print Journalist, Mr C.S. Buabeng, Former Member of National Media Commission, Professor Linus Abraham, Director, NAFTI and Lecturer, School of Communication Studies, University of Ghana.
The rest are Mr Ken Bediako, Veteran Sports Journalist, Dr Sika Ahadzie, Acting Director of the Language Centre, Ms Roberta Gardiner, Former Head of Training Ghana Television, Nana Kueyia Kuffuor, Lecturer, Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), Professor Reginald Jackon, Vice President in charge of Academic at AUCC and Mrs Diana Heymann-Adu, Lecturer, GIJ.