By: Kenneth Appiah Bani
Renowned Ghanaian blogger and media personality, Ameyaw Debrah, has sparked an important conversation about the true essence of journalism and the standards by which excellence in the field should be recognized. In a thought-provoking commentary, he argued that the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards must focus on celebrating journalistic impact, integrity, and storytelling, rather than popularity or entertainment value.
According to Ameyaw Debrah, true journalism should be celebrated “for its impact, not its popularity.” He emphasized that awards within the media space should reflect depth, truth, and public service, not metrics such as viewership numbers or how entertaining a program appears to be.
He expressed concern that some of the award categories, such as “Best Akan/Twi Radio Station” and “Best English TV Station,” seemed to reward broadcasting performance rather than journalistic merit. “When we begin to introduce categories that mirror popularity-driven contests,” he cautioned, “we risk blurring the lines between journalistic merit and mass appeal.”
Ameyaw noted that journalism, at its core, is not about fame or fanbase, but about serving the public interest with truth, balance, and accountability. He acknowledged that while it was commendable to see over 321 entries submitted for this year’s GJA Awards an indication that journalism in Ghana remains active and competitive there remains a pressing need to refine the criteria for recognition.
“As the night wore on and various winners were announced,” he reflected, “I found myself both proud and puzzled. Proud, because journalism in Ghana is still alive and competitive. Yet puzzled, because some of the categories made me pause to ask: What are we really rewarding here?”
His comments have reignited discussions within media circles about the need to redefine excellence in journalism, ensuring that awards go to those whose work has made tangible social impact, upheld ethics, and amplified truth over sensationalism.
The call by Ameyaw Debrah serves as a timely reminder that journalism’s value lies not in its glamour, but in its integrity and influence a standard that must guide how practitioners are recognized and celebrated in Ghana’s evolving media landscape.
