The Ashanti Regional Chapter of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) organised the Ashanti Media Excellence Awards 2026 to honour excellence in journalism and recognise support for the profession. The event was held on the theme: “Celebrating excellence, championing credibility: Journalism in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI)”. Former Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group Ltd, Kofi Badu, received the Lifetime Contribution to Journalism and Media Leadership Award.
Mr Badu, currently the Chief of Staff at the Manhyia Palace, was recognised for his distinguished contributions to journalism, media management and public service in Ghana. His professional journey embodied the values of dedication, discipline, innovation and service that define excellence in journalism. As Managing Director, GCGL, he provided leadership at a pivotal period in the evolution of print journalism, modernising newsroom operations, including computerisation and the adoption of more efficient editorial processes.
Ashanti Regional Correspondent, Gilbert Mawuli Agbey, won the second-place position in the education category with the story titled “Hope at last: Presidential Staffer rehabilitates dilapidated Kokotro School”. The award-winning story highlighted the singing capabilities of the school pupils of the Kokotro Methodist Primary School in the Bekwai Municipality. A video shared on social media revealed part of the dilapidated school building, leading to the transformation of the entire school.
The state of the school caught the attention of a presidential aide at the Office of the President, Ms Amanda Okyere, after a video of the choir was shared on social media by the teacher behind the choir, Sampson Abankwah. Moved by the singing and performance of the school choir, as well as the poor state of the school, Ms Okyere funded the renovation of the entire school, which was established in 1935.
Other winners at the Ashanti Media Excellence Awards 2026 included Emmanuel Bright Quaicoe of Luv FM/Joy News, who won the Ashanti Region Journalist of the Year 2025, best feature production and best in agriculture reporting. Yussif Ibrahim and Florence Afriyie Mensah of Ghana News Agency, Oscar Kwadwo Antwi Boasiako, Akoma FM/Onua TV, Ibrahim Abubakar, TV3, Doris Lonta, Towfik Mohammed and Bright Yeboah, all of Citi FM/ Channel One TV, also received awards.
In a response to the award, Mr Badu expressed gratitude for the honour, saying he never expected that another generation of young journalists would find it necessary to acknowledge the modest contributions he made towards the journalism profession. He emphasised that journalism is one of the professions on which society has been built and has shaped mankind.
A former Editor of the Daily Graphic, Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, urged journalists to strive to live beyond AI, saying it is a technology that has come to stay and should be domesticated to serve the profession better. The President of the GJA, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, reminded practitioners that journalism was not merely a profession but a calling to service that demanded courage, integrity, sacrifice and an unwavering commitment to the truth.
Key points
- Former Graphic MD Kofi Badu receives Lifetime Contribution to Journalism and Media Leadership Award
- Gilbert Mawuli Agbey wins second-place position in education category at Ashanti Media Excellence Awards 2026
- Ashanti Media Excellence Awards 2026 celebrates excellence in journalism and recognises support for the profession
