Four journalists from The Multimedia Group have scooped top honours at the prestigious 2024 Merck Foundation Awards, earning recognition for powerful storytelling on critical health and social issues.

JoyNews’ Emmanuel Dzivenu and Seyram Abla De-Souza emerged as overall winners in the West Africa Multimedia Category – Diabetes & Hypertension for their gripping hotline documentary, “NCDs - The Silent Epidemic.”

The documentary explores the alarming rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Ghana and the heavy toll it places on families, the healthcare system, and the economy.

Mona Lisa Frimpong, also of JoyNews, placed third in the West Africa Multimedia Category - More Than A Mother.

Her publication focused on female head porters (kayayei) in the Ashanti Region who are breaking cycles of abuse and poverty by seeking education and skills training.

Her story followed young women like Salah Abudu, who nearly became a child bride but now studies Public Health at the University of Ghana, supported by UNFPA.

Through first-hand accounts of trauma, exploitation, and survival, Frimpong highlighted the realities faced by over 100,000 kayayei - many of whom are vulnerable to unsafe abortions, child marriage, and social exclusion.

Prince Owusu Asiedu of Adom TV secured second place in the Online Category for his emotional piece, “Hypertension Shatters Family,” which tells the story of Amenin Asare - a 58-year-old man whose life was dramatically altered by hypertension, forcing him to stop work and face abandonment from his partner and children.

The four were among 125 journalists from Africa, Asia and the Americas celebrated under the award schemes “More Than a Mother” and “Diabetes and Hypertension.”

The Chief Executive Officer of the Merck Foundation, Senator Dr Rasha Kelej, praised the winners for “giving a voice to the voiceless” and for shining light on pressing but often overlooked social issues.

The awards are held in partnership with First Ladies from several African countries.