DAILY GRAPHIC EDITOR AWARDED BEST NORTHERN JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR 2010

DAILY GRAPHIC EDITOR AWARDED BEST NORTHERN JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR 2010

Flip Africa Media Consult- a Tamale based media consultancy firm has organized the maiden edition of Northern Journalists Awards Night in Tamale and Mr. Zakariah Alhassan, Northern Regional Editor of The Daily Graphic emerged as the overall best journalist.

He received an award package which contained a mobile phone, citation, a plague and certificate for his sterling performance and contribution to the socio-economic development of the Northern Region and Ghana as a whole.

Two of Accra based Citi FM Correspondents, Shamima Muslim, Host of Citi Eye-Witness News affectionately called Christian Amanpour by her fans in Tamale received a special award while Abdul-Karim Naatogmah, Northern Regional Correspondent received the best Developmental Journalist Award.

Salifu Mohammed Nurudeen of Daily Graphic, Northern Region, was adjudged the best Promising Journalist and Stephen Zoure of Daily Guide, Tamale, received the Hest Human Rights Journalist Award. Other awardees included Edmond Gyebi of the Chronicle Newspaper, Northern Region, received the Best Health and Investigative Journalist Awards.

Alhaji Sulemana of Diamond FM in Tamale received the Best News Editor Award and Peace FM’s partner station Fiila FM emerged as the Best Radio Station in Tamale and other deserving awardees including Samuel Akapule of GNA and William Jalula of the Chronicle News paper both in Bolgatanga received awards for other categories.

Mr. Yaw Ayeboafo of Daily Graphic, Madam Sabratu Alhassan of GBC Accra, Mr. Kassim Abdallah of Rumnet, Anass Aremeyaw Anass of the New Crusading Guide, Alhaji Marzuk of the Bilingual Free Press Newspaper as well as Alhassan Salifu Kalala of Justice Fm were among those who received Honorary Awards.

Addressing the gathering, Prince Mohammed Tawfik Tikum-ma, Chief Executive Officer of the Flip Africa Media Consult (FAMEC) said the event, was meant to reward and encourage Journalists working in the three Northern Regions.

He complained that Journalists in the three regions have been sidelined and alienated during the annual Ghana Journalists Association’s (GJA’s) national awards and that informed his outfit’s decision to organize the Northern Journalist Awards night to show appreciation for the contribution of Journalists in Northern Ghana towards nation building.

He commended MTN, Radach Memorial Lodge, the GETfund Hostel, Voltic Mineral Water, all the Tamale based radio stations and other sponsors whose contributions made the event a success and promised that the next awards night will be organized in a grand style.

Other speakers including Mr. Yaw Ayeboafo expressed worry at the rate at which Ghanaian Journalists were turning themselves into spin doctors for politicians and urged the media to refrain from such acts to move Ghana forward.