AIPS Awards 2024: JoySports Ayinga-Walter ranked 3rd in Africa and 5th globally

JoySports journalist Joseph Ayinga-Walter has achieved notable recognition. He secured 5th place globally and 3rd in Africa. This was in the Young Reporters Writing category at the 2024 AIPS Sport Media Awards. The event took place in Rabat, Morocco.

Ayinga-Walter's feature is titled “From Riches to Rags: The Story of Eric Agyemang, Former League Star.” It received international acclaim for its depth and social impact. The story follows Eric Agyemang’s downfall and redemption. He was living in an uncompleted building and struggling with alcoholism.

Since the article's publication, Agyemang has gained support from many people. He has reconnected with former teammates and found a stable job at Sapholda Ventures. Ayinga-Walter's top-five finish highlights his talent among young sports journalists worldwide. He competed against over 1,890 submissions.

His ranking came after a rigorous three-stage judging process by the AIPS Executive Committee.

In another achievement, Muftawu Nabila Abdulai placed 8th in Best Column writing at the same awards. His investigative piece focused on Ghana's 2022 FIFA World Cup finances.

The article is titled “2022 World Cup: GFA declares $7.9m prize money instead of $9m.” It examines discrepancies in the Ghana Football Association’s (GFA) reported prize money from Qatar.

The column reveals inconsistencies between FIFA's stated $9 million prize allocation and GFA’s figure of $7.9 million. This raises questions about transparency in managing national football finances.

This marks Muftawu’s third top-10 finish at the AIPS Awards. He previously finished second, third, and fourth, solidifying his status among Africa’s elite sports media professionals.

His success continues Ghana's strong tradition of excellence in global sports journalism.