Journalist and anchor with JoyNews/Joy FM, Manuel Koranteng, has been nominated for the 2023 edition of the prestigious Exclusive Men of the Year (EMY) Africa Awards.

Since 2016, EMY Africa has celebrated the best in men’s achievements across local industry, community, culture and public service. Dozens of men from all ages and walks of life have been honored for their abilities, initiatives and contributions to society.

This comes just months after he was crowned recipient of the coveted Komla Dumor Most Promising Journalist award by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA).

As the only mainstream journalist in the Discovery of the Year category together with Blackstars and Ajax showmaker Mohammed Kudus, respected Photographer and Curator Paul Ninson, and gospel sensation Perez Muzic, Manuel’s EMY Africa nomination is a deserving acknowledgement of his impressive journalist work over the years which cuts across several areas especially human rights, social protection, mental health, among others.

His professional journey has been a shining example for many young people who aspire to make a difference in their society. Manuel only recently announced his one-day exhibition on Ghana’s first photojournalist and Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s personal photographer, James Barnor, to be held in the UK this week.

Back in Ghana, Manuel’s award-winning story on a 10-year-old homeless boy who slept rough under the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange with his mentally ill mother, caught the attention of the public forcing city authorities and officials of the Department of Social Welfare to quickly rescue little Ebenezer.

The child has since been in good care while his mother continues to receive specialized mental healthcare.

Manuel says, “while I lay on my bed on the night he was rescued, I wondered what would have become of little Ebenezer and his mum if I didn’t do the story.”

He added that, “my journalism journey is marked by many such nights. Nights where I helplessly dream about a world where people’s right to education, dignified living, and everything in between will be recognized and protected.”

Manuel admits that his optimism is mostly cut short by the reality of the fact that there’s always someone else whose right is being abused or is on the verge of being abused. It is that reality which fuels him to use his camera and microphone to highlight these abuses with the goal of triggering action.

https://emyafrica.com/poll/discovery-of-the-year/

As a result of the story, a 2017 government of ghana policy dubbed “Operation get off the streets for a better life” initiated by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection was revived, with a focus on expanding existing shelters in Accra and Kumasi for the purposes of rescuing more homeless children.

In 2022, his “Mind Matters” documentary highlighted the story of Mariama Issifu, who was sexually abused by a mental health nurse, during her treatment for Schizophrenia. Her abuser was investigated and punished (by transfer) as a result.

According to Manuel, stories like that of Mariama and her abuser remind him of how much work there is to do in not only exposing such human rights abuses but also in securing the commensurate sanctions through advocacy to deter others.

That is why he set up MentaPulse Africa, a non-governmental organization which provides mental health support and advocacy services for working professionals in Ghana and across Africa.

He believes that with over 60 percent of the world’s population currently falling within the working bracket, governments and employers in Africa must begin to prioritize issues of workplace mental health and employee wellbeing.

His passion for impactful storytelling and commitment to excellent broadcasting makes it near impossible to miss his huge talent and potential. In December 2019, Manuel was awarded Best Student Journalistby the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) for his stellar work at the University of Ghana where he led the team to cover several relevant stories, including the Ayawaso-West Bye Election, Sex for Grades Scandal, and the Covid-19 pandemicin Ghana.

With one of Ghana’s first two Covid-19 cases recorded at the UG, management of the university has admitted that Manuel and his team’s work was instrumental in shaping the university’s response to the outbreak of virus.

Manuel holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Ghana and is currently pursuing a Master Degree in Journalism and Media at the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom where he started and runs the only current affairs show on URF Radio Falmer in Brighton.

The Exclusive Men of the Year Awards is recognised nationally as a prestigious awards ceremony for men. Across Africa, EMY Africa celebrates distinguished men every year on or around Father’s Day.

Since 2016, EMY Africa has celebrated the best in men’s achievements across local industry, community, culture and public service. Dozens of men from all ages and walks of life have been honored for their abilities, initiatives and contributions to society.