Ama Amankwah Baafi wins GJA Best Journalist in Agric Reporting

A Staff Writer with the Graphic Business, the only financial newspaper in the stable of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), Mrs  Ama Amankwah Baafi, has emerged as the Best Reporter in Agriculture Reporting (Print category) at the 23rd Ghana Journalists (GJA) awards held in Accra at the weekend.

Her story titled, “Lack of research blamed for fall armyworm invasion” was adjudged the best in the print category by the Awards Committee which had to struggle through the quality works presented by other journalists from other media houses.

A citation accompanying the award said the story was a clear manifestation of the country’s lack of regard for research in the agricultural sector which employed more than 60 per cent of the country’s workforce.

It also added that the story identified the gaps between agriculture and scientific solutions, and demonstrated the frustration of farmers, as well as the lack of understanding on the part of agricultural extension officers on the Fall Army-Worm which had destroyed thousands of acres of maize farms across the country.

“It is clear from your story that the Ministry of Agriculture has not concluded on the type of insecticides, backed by research, which the affected farmers should use to fight the army worm invasion. Ama Amankwah Baafi, the Awards Committee hereby awards you as the Best Agriculture

Reporter in the print category,” it added.

Mrs Baafi has carved a niche for herself by researching and writing on the agricultural sector for the Graphic Business since she joined the team many years ago.

The annual awards is to reward journalists who have excelled and contributed to the development of journalism in the country.  — GB