German Embassy, UK High Commission honour journalists for galamsey reporting

Three journalists received awards from the German Embassy and UK High Commission. They were recognized for their investigative reports on illegal mining, known as galamsey. Their work highlights the severe environmental impact of this practice.

The awards were part of World Press Freedom Day activities on May 3. They acknowledged the media's vital role in exposing unregulated mining in Ghana. UK High Commissioner to Ghana, H.E. Harriet Thompson, praised the journalists' contributions.

She stressed the need to protect journalists from harassment and intimidation. German Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Daniel Krull, spoke about responsible mining during an interview with Citi News. He called for a sustainable approach to mineral extraction.

Krull also mentioned the illegal trade of galamsey gold as a major issue. The award jury was chaired by Emmanuel K. Dogbevi, Managing Editor of Ghana Business News. He commended the journalists for their courage but noted areas for improvement.

Dogbevi said that many submitted stories only "barely scratched the surface." He emphasized that storytelling is crucial in journalism. Journalists must craft compelling narratives alongside gathering evidence.

The three honored journalists are:
- Best News Report: Timothy Ngnenbe, Daily Graphic
- Best Long Form Written Report: Seth J. Bokpe and Edmund Agyemang Boateng, The Fourth Estate
- Best Long Form Broadcast: Clara Mlano, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation