Winners have emerged at the 2021 West Africa Media Excellence Conference and Awards (WAMECA), which held in Accra, Ghana on October 22, 2021.
The fifth edition of the award themed, “Misinformation, Digital Media Regulation, and Journalism in Africa” recognises exceptional reporters in the diverse field of journalism and celebrates and promotes media excellence in West Africa.
The West Africa Media Excellence Conference and Awards (WAMECA) is an initiative by the Media Foundation for West Africa to promote media excellence in the sub-region. WAMECA is a two-part event: a Conference and an Awards ceremony for journalists.
Winners Of 2021 West Africa Media Excellence Conference And Awards (WAMECA)
- Overall Best Winner of the West African Journalist of the Year: Uthman Samad (Nigeria) and Kwetey Nartey (Ghana)
The report, “Pfizer Kano Trial: 24 years after, some victims not compensated and still can’t live normal lives” was done by Uthman Samad, who looked at lives of Kano citizens that were affected by a Pfizer vaccine trial.
The victims, who are still suffering from the side effects of the vaccine, were not compensated. Pfizer claimed it obtained closure on the matter in 2016.
Kwetey Nartey, a senior broadcast journalist with Joy FM story, won with the story, “Robbing the Poor”, which was a two-part investigation. His report looked into how some produce-buying clerks found dubious means of cheating cocoa farmers. The clerks also paid the farmers less for premium cocoa, certified ordinary cocoa as premium, and smuggled names into beneficiary communities under the Cocoa Certification Programme. These acts defeat the purpose of Ghana’s Cocoa Sustainability Programme. And Kwetey Nartey’s story exposed that.
- Environmental Reporting Prize: Chinedu Asadu (The Cable, Nigeria)
His undercover investigation, “How Chinese miners endangered residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)”.
- Special COVID-19 Reporting Category: Chikodi Okereocha (The Nation, Nigeria)
- Anti-Corruption Reporting Prize: Caleb Ojewale (BusinessDay, Nigeria)
- Human Rights Category: No winner
- Investigative Journalism Category: Kwetey Nartey
- ICT Reporting Category: Gideon Sarpong (iWatch Africa, Ghana)
- Best Health Reporting Category: Uthman Samad (Dataphyte, Nigeria)
- Best Business Reporting Category: Alfred Olufemi (Premium Times, Nigeria)
His report on Nigeria’s defunct paper mills exposed how the privatization processes of the mills have failed woefully and touched on the non-wood alternatives that can help the revival of the mills and conserve forests resources, especially for climate change concerns.
Journalists from Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Benin republic were shortlisted as finalists.
A total number of 711 entries were received for the 2021 West Africa Media Excellence Awards from 14 countries. The five-member jury, after a thorough review of the entries, shortlisted 21 finalists from five countries.
Organised by the Media Foundation for West Africa, WAMECA honours exemplary work, in-depth investigations and exceptional storytelling.
Executive Director of the MFWA, Sulemana Braimah, in his welcome address hoped:
“WAMECA awards will continue to inspire and motivate winners and at the same time inspire others to do more.”
