The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has officially opened entries for the 29th GJA Media Awards, inviting members to submit their published or broadcast works for consideration.

The entries open today, Friday, September 12, and will close on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at 23:59 hours. According to the GJA, there will be no extension of the submission deadline.

The association said only members in good standing are eligible to participate, and submissions must cover works published or broadcast in 2024. All entries are to be submitted strictly online via WeTransfer

This year’s awards will be held in Manhyia, Kumasi, the Ashanti regional capital, and organisers say the ceremony “promises to be magnificent.”

Entry Requirements and Rules

The statement said the competition is open to members in good standing working in print (including news agencies), electronic, and online media in Ghana. Members of the National Executive and the GJA Media Awards Committee are not eligible to contest.

Entries should cover works published from January 1 to December 31, 2024, and applicants may submit entries for a maximum of two award divisions, with no more than two works per division. Entrants must submit clear, original published work for each entry and upload a passport-size photo.

Student journalists must upload a scanned copy of their student ID card. Applicants are advised to ensure a strong internet connection to facilitate easy and fast uploading of entries.

All entries or nominations should be titled “GJA MEDIA AWARDS 2025” and include personal details, media house, and contact information. The GJA emphasised that it is not obliged to give an award in any division if entries do not merit recognition.

Awards Selection
The Awards Committee will select the Overall Best Story from the various divisions for consideration by the National Executive as winner of the GJA/P.A.V. Ansah Journalist of the Year, Best Female Journalist of the Year, Komla Dumor Most Promising Journalist of the Year, and Best Student Journalist of the Year.

Award Categories

The Awards will cover six divisions, including separate awards for news, features, documentaries, columnist work, and beat reporting, such as sports, education, health, business, gender, crime/court, and investigative journalism.

Special campaign awards will also be given in areas such as disability, road safety, domestic tourism, and illegal mining.

There are further categories for programmes and layouts, promising journalists, and the ultimate Journalist of the Year.

A full breakdown of the divisions includes:

Division One: News, Features, Documentaries, Columnists

Division Two: Sports, Education, Investigative, Photojournalism, Arts & Entertainment, Business/Economics, Environment/Science, Health, Democracy & Good Governance, Gender, Crime/Court

Division Three: Disability, Domestic Tourism, Road Safety, Illegal Mining

Division Four: Best Radio/TV Programme (Ghanaian Languages & English), Best Newspaper Layout

Division Five: Best Student Journalist, Komla Dumor Most Promising Journalist, Best Female Journalist

Division Six: GJA/P.A.V. Ansah Journalist of the Year

The announcement was signed by Dominic Hlordzi, General Secretary of the GJA.