The works of two journalists who work with The Multimedia Group Limited have been recognised at the 2024 Inclusive and Anti-Conflict Journalism Awards in Ghana.

JoyNews’ broadcast journalists, Emmanuel Bright Quaicoe and Mona Lisa Frimpong, were awarded for their excellent reports on issues surrounding marginalized groups and protecting the environment.

The award ceremony, held on Tuesday May 28, 2024 in Accra, was organized by the Media Platform on Environment and Climate Change in collaboration with the Minority Rights Group International.

It is part of the 2-year project on Engaging Media and Minorities to Act for Peace building (EMMAP) in Ghana, Senegal and Sierra Leone.

Whilst Emmanuel Bright Quaicoe’s story, titled “Farmer-Herder Conflict: A weakened fight” was adjudged the overall best in the Television category of the award, Mona Lisa Frimpong came second in the same category.

Bright Quaicoe’s story focused on finding solutions to the seemingly unending feud between farmers and herders in Ghana.

Despite the plethora of research and investigations conducted into the conflicts in Ghana, the government is yet to adopt and implement policies and laws to find lasting resolution to the feud that has over the years claimed lives and destroyed properties.

His story focused on the Asante Akyem North and Sekyere Afram Plains districts where at least ten lives have been lost to the violent-clashes, which primarily are driven by inaccessibility to resources like arable lands owing to the changing climate.

Traditional authorities and local governments in the areas are insistent on their abhorrence to nomadic herdsmen activities until the government institutes measures to regulate their activities.

Mona Lisa Frimpong’s story on “Wood dust: The silent killer of Ghanaian woodworkers” exposed how Ghana's woodworkers are battling a range of health problems caused by wood dust.

Many woodworkers are fond of working on the crafts without paying attention to the health implications of their actions.

In the report, Ms. Frimpong highlighted the detrimental exposure of wood particles to the workers as Environmental scientists charged company owners and woodworkers themselves to understand the risks and put in place protection measures.

Their works were part of 41 submissions received by the judging panel for the Media Platform of Environment and Climate Change.

Executive Director of MPEC Ghana, Mary Ama Kudom-Agyemang highlighted the need for more journalists to report critically on stories about minorities in society.

“We went to this community where there had been an attack but no media organisation reported on it. This shows how critical we need more journalists and media organizations to show interest in such stories pertaining to conflicts, the environment, climate change and migration,” she said.

Former President of the Ghana Journalists Association, Roland Affail Monney, charged the winners and other journalists to relentlessly fight for the good course of the environment.

“It is said that no government responds to silence. You need to incessantly report on stories that can hold those at the helm of affairs responsible,” he said.

Other journalists awarded at the ceremony under the print and online categories include Anthony Adongo Apubeo, Mohammed Fugu, Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen, and Timothy Ngnenbe.