By Seth Eyiah
GBC’s Northern Regional Correspondent, Murtala Issah, on Thursday, July 20, won the Television News Report Category on Epidemic Preparedness and Response Financing in Ghana by SEND Ghana, a CSO.
He received a plaque and an undisclosed amount of money.
Ghana News Agency’s Northern Regional Reporter, Albert Futukpor, emerged as the overall winner of the Most Impactful Story. He also won one of the online versions of the award.
Mr. Futukpor also received a plaque and an undisclosed amount of money. Graphiconline Reporter Zadok Gyesi won the other online award. Two female reporters with the Ghanaian Times, Benedicta Folley and Abigail Annoh, won the Print category, and a reporter with Excellence in Broadcasting, Ridwan Karim, won the Radio Category.
In a remark, the Chief Executive Officer of SEND West Africa, Siapha Kamara, congratulated all the winners and called for the establishment of Epidemic Preparedness and Financing Fund for the country.
In all, six journalists won awards in the Television, Radio, Print and Online Categories at the second edition of the SEND Ghana advocacy campaign on Epidemic Preparedness and Financing in Ghana.
GBC’s Murtala Issah dedicated his award to all the staff of the corporation and hoped it would propel him to do more to win international awards. For his part, Albert Futukpor said it is important for government to convert the COVID-19 Levy into Epidemic Preparedness and Response Financing Fund to enable the government to adequately respond to any epidemic outbreak in the country.
The Chief Executive Officer of SEND West Africa, Siapha Kamara, said Epidemic Preparedness and Response Financing Fund is critical for Ghana in the event of an outbreak of an epidemic.
Three CSOs and the Ministry of Health received awards. There were fraternal messages from the Ministry of Health, Parliament’s Select Committee on Health, and others.