Ghanaian journalist Ernest Dela Aglanu has won the top award at the inaugural Global South Video News Awards in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Dela Aglanu's impactful visual storytelling earned him the prestigious Vital Footage Award, making him the sole African winner at the ceremony.

The award was presented on Tuesday, December 9, during the BRIDGE Summit, the world's largest debut media conference, which highlights the exceptional work of video journalists focusing on the narratives of the Global South.

Ernest Dela Aglanu, working with cameraman Naphtali Baah, won the top award for his compelling story featuring WW2 veteran Joseph Ashitey Hammond (born in 1925). The 100-year-old is a (last) surviving member of the Gold Coast Regiment.

The powerful footage captured the veteran's account of fighting for the British Empire during World War II, the subsequent neglect and abandonment of African soldiers by the colonialists after the war's conclusion.

The veteran shared a vivid recollection of the 1948 Crossroads shooting, an event widely regarded as a pivotal turning point in Ghana's march toward independence.

The Vital Footage Award, the ceremony's topmost recognition, is given explicitly to footage deemed essential for telling meaningful stories fully and accurately, ultimately giving voice to perspectives that challenge and change perception.

Hosted by well-known media personality Mai Maxwell, the event attracted a diverse and impressive audience of broadcasters, video journalists, and senior media figures from across the Global South.

The judging panel comprised over 20 senior media professionals from leading news organisations across the Global South, including Clarín (Argentina), Hindustan Times (India), Korean Broadcasting System, TeleSUR (Venezuela), and the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.

Other journalists celebrated for their outstanding contributions to visual storytelling included: Best Camerawork - Maxi Jonas from Argentina; Most Creative Shot - Enrique Ortiz from Ecuador; and Exclusive Lens - Masoud Al Jarousha from Palestine.

Ernest Dela Aglanu's award places a significant spotlight on Ghanaian and African journalism and the importance of preserving and sharing crucial historical narratives from the African continent on a global stage.

About Ernest Dela Aglanu

Ernest Dela Aglanu is a journalist and a strategic media consultant with almost two decades of experience in the Ghanaian and international media landscape.

He has served as a journalist, producer, and consultant for prominent global and African organisations, including The Multimedia Group (Joy FM, Joy News and Myoyonline.com), Media General (TV3, 3FM and 3news.com), Black Entertainment Television (BET – Africa), Ruptly (Germany), Benzinga (USA), and Glitz Africa. He currently serves as a dedicated stringer and Ghana lead for Viory International News Agency.

Leveraging on his deep knowledge of the African creative and news industry, Dela’s work is driven by a singular determination: to bring compelling African news and content to broader global audiences.