The Ghana Chapter of the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB Ghana) have disclosed their resolve to continually reward scientific accuracy in reporting biotech-related stories with originality and clarity of interpretation in order to foster a better public understanding of agricultural biotechnology to make an impact.

OFAB Ghana with support from the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) is inviting applications for the 2022 edition of its Media Award.

The award seeks to recognize exemplary journalism that stimulates best practices in the adoption of agricultural technologies, particularly agricultural biotechnology. Categories for submission include print and online (newspapers, magazine and online), radio and television.

A Senior Research Scientist at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) - Science and Technology Policy Research Institute (STEPRI) and OFAB Ghana Coordinator, Dr. Richard Ampadu-Ameyaw, said applicants should submit a maximum of three entries per category and might enter for more than one category.

He said entries from Journalists would be accepted from 13th June to 30th July, 2022, adding that publications done from the period 1st June 2021 to 13th July, 2022 are eligible for entry.

He said applicants must include the following with the publication to be submitted - a brief synopsis (about 150 words) of the stories submitted and about 150-word professional biography.

The rest are; a brief 200-word piece explaining the motivation for each story submitted, a digital passport size photo, a copy of national ID/Passport and evidence of Media Accreditation/Membership of a National Media Association.

Dr. Ampadu-Ameyaw urged interested journalists to submit their entries through ofabghana@outlook.com.

He noted that winners of the OFAB Ghana Media Award would be participating in the OFAB Africa continental award.

The OFAB Media Awards was initiated to promote excellence in science journalism and appreciate the contribution of journalists in promoting sustainable agricultural technologies, particularly agricultural biotechnology and reward the critical roles played by journalists in promoting constructive dialogue on modern biotechnology through responsible, professional, ethical, and effective reporting.

The culmination of the Award is the OFAB Africa Media Awards contest that brings together OFAB country-level finalists from which the overall winners are selected.

The call will culminate in celebrating and awarding three winning journalists in the categories of television, radio and print and online.