The Ghana Journalists Association has apologized for what was potentially a scandal, to hit the association's prestigious Awards which is just two days away. An advert captured in the 13th August, 2009 edition of the Daily Graphic had replaced names publicized earlier as nominees for different categories of the awards. The Journalist of the year award had The New Crusading Guide’s investigative Journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas and The Enquirer’s newspaper's Editor Raymond Artchur as the new nominees instead of Kobby Asmah and Lorreta Vanderpuye as earlier publicized by the GJA The Sports Journalist of the year also had Joy FM’s Nathaniel Attoh and Daily Graphic’s Maurice Quansah sidelined for Sammy Bartels and Kofi Asare Brako. This sparked a controversy, a phenomenon never missing in earlier awards, but the General Secretary of the Association Bright Blewu has calmed tempers, at least for now. In an interview with Joy News’ Dzifa Bampoe, he explained the Daily Graphic advert was a genuine error from his outfit, adding the earlier nominees’ publicized still stand. According to him, his assistant provided wrong details to the national daily, and issued an unqualified apology for that. “It is only the Daily Graphic publication that creates the problem,” he said. On the issue of public votes which has been introduced in this years ceremony, Mr. Blewu contended the votes play no part in who wears the coveted crown but only to generate public interest. He said the Awards Committee already knows who picks the award for the various categories. Editor of the Daily Dispatch News Paper and a member of the GJA, Ben Ephson had slammed the executives for this new introduction, saying the public voting systems have been manipulated in other award winning programmes, crowning in most cases undeserved winners. But Mr. Blewu said concerns of the voting system are misplaced as it was only purpose is to ascertain the popularity of the nominees. The 14th GJA Awards slated for Saturday, 15th August, 2009 at the Banquet Hall State House is under the theme; “Using the media to promote dialogue, mutual understanding and National Unity.” Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline/Ghana