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The 2022 P.A.V Ansah Journalist of the Year, Erastus Asare Donkor, has been named as a nominee for the West Africa Media Excellence Awards (WAMECA 2023).
He’s among four Ghanaians who made it to the WAMECA nominee list this year.
This comes shortly after Erastus picked two awards including the ultimate at the 27th edition of the Ghana Journalists Association Awards where he was recognised for his work that shed light on environmental impact of illegal mining in Ghana.
The 16 WAMECA finalists were selected by a 3-member jury made up of distinguished and experienced media experts in Africa after a thorough review and assessment of the stories submitted by the journalists. This year, the Awards received 825 entries from 15 West African countries. The entries were filed by journalists from about 402 media organisations in the West Africa region.
The ultimate winners will be announced at the Awards event on Saturday, November 11, 2023, at the World Trade Centre, Accra, Ghana. The event will be graced by media experts, high-level personalities and delegates from sub-regional bodies and civil society groups.
Other recognitions
Mr Asare Donkor recently received the PAV Ansah Communication Award at the 2023 EMY Africa Awards. The PAV Ansah Communicator Award recognises a communication professional who is an opinion leader with the most positive outreach, and an inspirator with the most influence.
He pitched the award for his investigative report “Destruction for Gold” on the devastation caused by illegal mining [galamsey] in the country.
Erastus has won many awards in his sterling media career with Ghana’s leading media conglomerate, the Multimedia Group Limited.
In July this year, he was awarded with the Environmental Sustainability Personality of the Year by the Department of Planning at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
The honour was in appreciation of his consistent dedication and commitment to protecting Ghana’s natural environment through his work.
Also in June of 2023, his exceptional journalism in reporting human rights, environment and irresponsible mining, was recognised by the Ashanti Regional branch of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA).
In June 2023, he was also shortlisted for an international recognition by the Covering Climate Now Journalism Award. This was also for his “Destruction For Gold” documentary.
In October 2022, when the Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana (CIMG) at its Annual Marketing Performance Awards in Accra recognised the Multimedia Group Limited for its quality of work demonstrated over the years, it also honoured Erastus Asare Donkor for the same ‘Destruction for Gold’ documentary.
Below is the list of finalists for WAMECA 2023:
Edineia de Jesus Fernandes de Barros, Record Tv Cabo Verde, Cape Verde
Destiny Abanyem Onyemihia, Voice of Nigeria, Nigeria
Francisca Enchill, Joy News/Corruption Watch, Ghana
Elza Sandrine Sawadogo, L’Economiste du Faso, Burkina Faso
Gbenga Salau, The Guardian Newspaper, Nigeria
Erastus Asare Donkor, Multimedia Group Limited, Ghana
Godfrey George Allaputa, PUNCH Nigeria Limited, Nigeria
Edisângela Semedo Tavares, Jornal Expresso das Ilhas, Cape Verde
Komla Adom, TV3, Ghana
Muhammed Akinyemi, HumAngle Media, Nigeria
Mahamadi Sebogo, Sidwaya, Burkina Faso
Emmanuel Kwasi Debrah, Multimedia Group Limited, Ghana
Abdulwasiu Olokooba, Sahara Reporters, Nigeria
Yusuf Akinpelu and Kabir Yusuf, Premium Times, Nigeria
Emmanuel Ayamga, Pulse Ghana, Ghana
Taiwo Alimi, The Nation Newspapers, Nigeria
said he’s deeply humbled for the honour done him at the 27th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards.
