Director of News Programming at Accra-based Citi FM,Bernard Koku Avle, has been adjudged Ghana’s 2017 Journalist of the Year by the Ghana Journalists Association.
The 37-year-old broadcast journalist who hosts the station’s ‘Citi Breakfast Show’, beat stiff competition from 36 other journalists in the award scheme that saw 548 applications.
Mr. Avle has since joining Citi FM over a decade ago as a reporter, has risen to host the station’s biggest programme and became a household name in morning shows in the country.
He takes over from Kwame Sefa Kayi of Peace FM who won the 2016 award christened PAV Journalist of the Year Award.
He will receive a three-bedroom house an SUV and a cash prize.
Mr. Avle holds a Bachelors of Arts in Economics, an MBA in Marketing from the Warwick Business School and is an ALIWA Fellow, an Edward R Murrow Fellow of Journalism and a Chevening Scholar.
2017 GJA Award Winners
Journalist of the Year 2017 – Bernard Koku Avle [Citi FM]
Most Promising Journalist of the Year – Alice Aryitey [GhOne TV]
News Reporting (Print) – Severious Kale-Dery [Daily Graphic]
Best Sports Reporter (TV) – Saddick Adams [Atinka TV]
Features (Radio) – Seth Kwame Boateng [Joy FM]
Features (TV) – Peggy Ama Donkor [GTV]
Investigative Reporting – Stanley Nii Blewu [TV3]
Maritime – Grace Nana Esi Boateng [Oman FM]
Education – Peter Quao Adator [TV3]
News Reporting (Electronic) – Peter Quao Adator [TV3]
Domestic Tourism (Print) – Charles Andoh [The Mirror]
Features (Print) – Rebecca Quaicoe-Duho [Daily Graphic]
Environment (Electronic) – Portia Gabor [TV3]
Human Rights (Print) – Samuel Adadi Akapule [Ghanaian Times]
Sports Journalist (Radio) – Dan Kwaku Yeboah [Peace FM]
Best Newspaper – [Daily Graphic]
Best Radio Station – [Peace FM]
Human Rights (Child Protection – TV) – Ernest Manu [Joy Mews]
Human Rights (Child Protection- Radio) – Rebecca Ekpe [GBC Radio]
Best TV station – [UTV]
Best Layout & Designed Newspaper – [Daily Graphic]
Agriculture (Print) – Ama Amankwaah Baafi [Graphic Business]
Best Photojournalist – David Andoh [Myjoyonline]
Best Health Report (Radio) – Nana Yaa Konadu [Peace FM]
Best Health Report (Print) – Doreen Hammond [Daily Graphic]
Domestic Tourism (TV) – [UTV]
Oil and Gas – Moses Dotse Aklorbortu [Daily Graphic]
Best Digital Journalism – [GNA]
Small and Medium Enterprises – Christian Akorli [GNA]
Business Finance and Economic Reporting – Suleiman Mustapha [Daily Graphic]
Best Morning Show (Radio) – [Citi FM Breakfast Show]
Best Morning Show (TV) – Good Morning Ghana [Metro TV]
Best Report in Health (TV) – Seth Kwame Boateng [Joy News]
Best Rural (Electronic) – Joojo Cobinnah [Joy News]
Best Rural Reporting (Print) – David Kodjo-Asinesi
Mining (Print) – Gabriel Ahiabor [Daily Graphic]
Mining (Electronic) – Kwasi Anum
Sanitation and Hygiene – Caesar Abagali [GNA]
Best WASH – Justice Adoboe [Xinhua News Agency]
Best Programme (TV – Akan) – Di Asa [Atinka TV]
Best Development Journalism – Timothy Ngnenbe [Daily Graphic]
Best in Disability Reporting (Electronic) – Alice Aryitey [GhOne TV]
Best Development Journalism (Electronic) – Ridwan Karim Dini-Osman [GhOne]
Best HIV AIDS Reporter – Linda Tenya Ayettey [Daily Guide]
Best Transport and Road Safety – Severious Kale-Dery and Seth J. Bokpe [Daily Graphic]
Environment (Print) – Seth J. Bokpe [Daily Graphic]
Agriculture (Electronic) – Joseph Opoku Gakpo [Joy News]
Best Female Journalist – Jamila Akweley Okertchiri [Daily Guide]
Best Cartoonist – Akosua [Daily Guide]
Democracy and Peace Building – [UTV]
Best Crime and Court Reporting- Joyce Danso [GNA]
Disability (Print) – Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah [Daily Graphic]
Anti-Galamsey – Kojo Agyemang, Latif Iddrisu, Godwin Arthur, Stephen Kwaku Fosu, Timothy Ngnenbe, Joyce Gyekye
Honorary awards
Persons who have over the years contributed to the growth of the media landscape in Ghana also received honorary awards. They are:
Mrs Barbara Gaisie
A.C. Ohene
Madam Faustina Nelson
Osei Kwame Despite
Dr Ernest Ofori Sarpong
Dr Samuel Amo Tobbin
Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom
Mr Kwasi Twum
COP, Dr George A. Dampare.
By 3news.com|Ghana