The 2nd Edition of GJA Awards was organized by the Upper West Regional Executives of Ghana Journalists Association at A&Q Grand View Hotel on the 31st of October 2026.

Several Personalities were awarded based on their industriousness and sacrifices however, there were some Lapses detected during the event

1. Awards Committee was absent to elaborate on how some awards were earned. The absence of awards Committee at the important occasion raised questions and eyebrows after the Regional Treasurer of UW GJA, Mr Ivan Domasah admitted the committee members were out of town during the important occasion, this resulting in summary of awards and short deliberations given on how the awards were achieved. Awards were given without details of Work by earners, names of competitors.

2. Strange categories introduced. The awards night became more interesting after new categories were introduced suddenly, some of these categories include Digital Media of the Year, a Category that wasn’t advertised for application and with no criteria for selection indicated, a criteria that raised questions about the credibility of the awards Committee.

3. Some categories Taken off without notifications or press release. The committee announced some categories including business and Investigative Journalism Categories for interested applicants to file, however these categories were later scrapped without notifications.

4. Overall Best Journalist Didn’t receive financial support to acquire logistics or investment packages to improve his career. The overall winner received a Laptop from MTN, a plague and Citation from GJA, packages that are below expecting considering the levels of sponsorship.

Several sponsored invested in the awards scheme including Anwelle Foundation, NEDCO, Hudu Foundation, Dr Rashid Hassan Pelpuo(MP for Wa Central), Shemima Muslim (Ghc5,000), Alhaji Alhassan Uthman Gbangu, Bliss Eye Care, Lawra Municipal Assembly, Delimwini Afriq, MTN etc. these organizations coming together could offer a better package for the overall Best Journalist than a laptop, citation and Plaque. Detailed account of sponsorship offered by individuals and organizations weren’t released, raising questions by Stakeholders.

It can be recalled that the GJA Awards Committee gave out an inactive email (uwgjawards2025@gmail.com) address to applicants to submit their applications a concern that was however addressed later after series of concerns raised without official statements released.

Source: Upper West Media App