Emmanuel Kwasi Debrah and Francisca Nchiru of JoyNews have won big awards at the prestigious West African Media Excellence and Conference Awards (WAMECA) 2023.
Kwasi Debra was named Best Journalist in the ICT and Communications Reporting category, while fellow Corruption Watch reporter Francisca Nchir won the Best Investigative Reporter award.
The two journalists were recognized by the awards grand jury for their outstanding and impactful storytelling skills.
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Kwasi Debra’s story about unsolicited subscriptions by mobile phone users in Ghana drew his attention.
The story sheds light on how some telecommunications network subscribers were unknowingly being billed by third parties licensed by the National Telecommunications Authority to provide value-added services. I guessed.
Kwasi Debra could not hide his excitement after winning the category against two Nigerian journalists, Godfrey George Arapta of Punch Nigeria Limited and Abdulwasiu Orokuobah of Sahara Reporters .
He was a finalist in this category three years in a row, but ultimately took away the coveted plaque in his fourth year of winning.
“I’ve been here in 2019, 2021, 2022 and again this year. I’ve always been a finalist, but today I’m a finalist. It was quite an arduous process. “It shows the hard work that went into the work,” he said happily.
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Meanwhile, Francisca’s investigation uncovered bribery by government officials at the Ghana Driving License Authority.
Exposure books help applicants avoid the mandatory 48-hour driving school admission requirement, computer test, on-road driving test, and road sign test to obtain a driver’s license. He revealed how he was charged more than twice the official fee. Or they don’t even know how to drive.
On the night, Erastus Asare Donkor of Multimedia Group also received an award for his story titled “Destruction For Gold.”
His work focused on exposing those behind the illegal practice of artisanal mining that destroys Ghana’s forest cover and water bodies.
He was a finalist in the environmental reporting category for this award.
HumAngle – Nigeria’s Muhammed Akiyemi won West Africa Overall Best Journalist Award and Best Environment Reporter Award.
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The award received 825 entries from 15 countries in West Africa.
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