Accra, Aug. 27, - Two journalists
from the Ghana News Agency (GNA) have won awards at the Open Forum for
Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) Ghana National Media Awards 2018.
Mr Prosper Kwame Kuorsoh, a Chief
Reporter with the GNA was adjudged Winner for the Online and Print Category and
was rewarded with a an iPad, a plaque, a cash prize and a hamper.
The first runner-up for the
Online and Print category position went to Mr Iddi Z. Yire, an Editor, also
with the GNA. He also received a plaque, a cash prize and a hamper.
The winner for the Radio and
Television category was Mr Philip Bagyiliko Tengzu of Radio Mak, Wa, who also
received an iPad, a plaque, a cash prize and a hamper.
The trio would be participating
in this year’s OFAB Africa Regional Awards to be held in September in
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
The OFAB, an initiative of
African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), is a platform that provides
an opportunity for biotechnology stakeholders to network, share knowledge and
experiences.
It also allows them to explore
new avenues of bringing the benefits of biotechnology to the African farmer and
investor.
The award aims at recognising
exemplary journalism that stimulates best practices in the adoption of
agricultural technologies; particularly agricultural biotechnology.
The OFAB-Ghana Chapter is among
eight networks established by AATF in eight other African countries.
The OFAB Ghana, which was
launched in May 2013, has been partnering with the Ghana Journalists
Association (GJA), the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR),
the Programme for Biosafety Systems (PBS), and the AATF to recognise
journalists who have excelled in reporting on biotechnology.
Dr George Owusu Essegbey, a
former Director, CSIR – Science and Technology Policy Research Institute
(STEPRI), who chaired the function, said journalists who evaluated science and
develop interest in scientific reporting needed to be celebrated.
He said science reporting was a
noble mission that needs much attention when it comes to communication; adding
that, “we need to honour those who educate the public on relevant things under
science, technology and innovation.
Dr Richard Ampadu-Ameyaw, OFAB
Ghana National Coordinator, and a Senior Research Scientists at CSIR –STEPRI,
said among the responsibilities of OFAB, was to enhance knowledge sharing among
stakeholders, such as journalists, farmers and civil society organisations.
He noted that to facilitate
education on modern agricultural biotechnology, on safety importance and disadvantages,
journalists were needed to make this objective possible.
Dr Ampadu-Ameyaw stressed that,
the objectives of the awards was to promote excellence in science journalism
and to promote balance in sustainable agriculture.
He said it was to recognise and
honour journalists for their critical roles in promoting science and
technology.
Speaking on Genetically Modified
Organisms (GMOs), Dr Ampadu-Ameyaw noted that, they were still educating the
public on GMO foods.
Professor Kenneth Danso, Director
of Biotechnology and Nuclear Agricultural Research Institute (BNARI) of the
Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, addressing the attendees, said scientists are
sometimes so busy during a research that they don’t get time to communicate,
hence the importance of journalists to support in the dissemination of their
findings and recommendations.
“The media have a powerful tool
in their hand and scientists have the technology-we have about 60 per cent of
people in Agriculture, and technology also plays an important role in that.
Therefore, the media is important in educating the public on the importance of
using technology in Agriculture," he said.
Prof Danso noted that, educating
the public on the importance of technology in agriculture, would let them know
that there would be enough raw materials for agro based industries; that yields
would increase, nutritional foods would increase and would also reduce
environmental degradation.
Dr Yakubu Alhassan, former Deputy
Minister of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), urged all tertiary institutions to
adopt communication of science and interpretation of scientific components into
their curricula to give science students better ways of helping the world to
know the results of research.
He said in many instances,
scientists were not trained to communicate the uses of technology.
He noted that an investment and
business communication dimensions was not currently a subject scientists could
add, he therefore, urged journalists to be stakeholders and communicators.
“Journalists therefore, need some
motivation because it becomes important for journalists, who opt to report on
science and agriculture to be able to do it efficiently," he said.
Mr Kuorsoh on behalf of his
fellow awardees expressed gratitude to OFAB for the honour done them.
GNA
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