The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has opened entries for the 30th GJA Media Awards, introducing two new categories while discontinuing the Best Female Journalist of the Year award. The newly introduced categories are the Bank of Ghana Governor’s Economic and Financial Story of the Year and the Best Digital and New Media Platform of the Year. Entries opened on Thursday, September 3, and will close on Friday, September 18, at 11:59 p.m. The awards ceremony, scheduled to take place in Accra in October to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the awards, will include a special programme celebrating the achievements of Ghanaian journalists and the media’s contribution to national development.
Participation is strictly limited to GJA members in good standing. Eligible applicants are required to submit works that were published or broadcast between January 1 and December 31, 2025. All entries must be submitted online through the newly developed GJA website, www.gjaghana.com.
GJA President, Albert Kwabena Dwumfuor, announced the changes at a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, September 3. He explained that the adjustments were based on recommendations and suggestions from members and were aimed at ensuring the awards remain relevant to the evolving media landscape.
Digital journalism recognised
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has announced a new category—Best Digital and New Media Platform of the Year—to honour journalists and outlets operating in the digital space. GJA President Albert Dwumfuor explained that the award is designed to celebrate credible platforms, not those spreading falsehoods or fake news.
He noted that the Association has, over the past three years, engaged new media practitioners through training and capacity‑building programmes to strengthen professionalism in the digital era. “We are in the new media, the era of digitalisation and digitisation. There’s a need for us to appreciate our colleagues who are also discharging their job in that space,” he said.
New categories
On the Bank of Ghana Governor’s Economic and Financial Story of the Year, he said the new category followed an agreement between the GJA and the Bank of Ghana. He described the partnership as a long-term arrangement, saying, “the Bank of Ghana is going to be a long-standing partner of the GJA in the organisation of the awards.” Mr Dwumfuor said the review also resulted in the removal of the Best Female Journalist of the Year category, which had been part of the awards for several years.
Explaining the decision, he said the female category was originally introduced to promote gender balance at a time when the overall Journalist of the Year award was predominantly won by male journalists. “In the past, we realised that the Journalist of the Year, which is the ultimate award, was going to only the male journalists. And so, there was a need for us to create the Female Journalist of the Year,” he said.
He said the situation had changed in recent years, with a number of female journalists winning the overall award. “And so, if they are now competing with the males, why do we still leave the Female Journalist of the Year?” he asked. He said retaining the female category could result in a female journalist winning both the female award and the overall Journalist of the Year award.
Deadline for entries
Mr Dwumfuor stressed that there would be no extension of the deadline, explaining that the 30th anniversary edition would have a packed programme. He said participation was open strictly to GJA members in good standing, with eligible applicants required to submit works published or broadcast between January 1 and December 31, 2025.
New GJA website
The GJA has also unveiled a new official website as part of efforts to improve communication, access to information and engagement with journalists, members and the general public. Mr Dwumfuor said the website would serve as the new digital home of the association. “The new website represents an important milestone in the association’s ongoing digital transformation,” he said.
He said the platform would provide a central source of official information on the GJA’s programmes, activities, policies, advocacy initiatives and other matters concerning journalists. He added that it would also feature statements, press releases, training opportunities, events, membership-related information, media development initiatives, journalist safety and press freedom advocacy.
Mr Dwumfuor said the platform would also provide government institutions, development partners, diplomatic missions, civil society organisations and other stakeholders with direct access to information about the GJA. “We are just unveiling the platform to receive this year’s entries to test the robustness of the platform. Then it will be duly launched,” he said.
Digital services for members
The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) announced plans to transition several of the association’s services online. He mentioned that members would be able to check their status on the website, including whether they are in good standing. “Once you go to the website and click on the members section, you will see your status. If you are in good standing, you’ll know. If you are not, you’ll know,” he explained.
Mr. Dwumfuor also noted that members with discrepancies in their payment records could file complaints through the platform. He emphasized that the GJA aims to adopt a paperless and cashless system, with plans to offer online booking for its conference facilities. “We are going fully digital, and we need your support and cooperation to achieve this,” he stated.
