..........GJA Awards Blues, the Story of The stolen award............ Pissing in from afar. Ive been (and sure you have been too) bombarded with a lot of noise since the curtains closed to this years GJA Awards. I honestly didnt watch it, not because it was of no interest to me but because I couldnt make the time to. Besides, I was of the opinion that selfless, devoted, nationalistic, development oriented, corruption proof media practitioners were going to be recognized and rewarded for their efforts in not just keeping the gates but helping take development to the hinterlands through their profession and therefore my watching or otherwise adds/takes nothing away from it. Now I read the prestigious Komla Dumor Journalist of the year award went to Mabel Aku Banesseh of Daily Graphic for her excellent coverage of the election petition proceedings. I knew Mabel had been a court reporter for Graphic but I never new her in person. The first time we met was in the Supreme Court during the election petition. She is such a bubbly figure I gathered. I was also assigned to cover the proceedings for Radio XYZ. We were firmly seated with our pens and papers (NB: no ipads or tablets) not that we couldnt afford them though (most of us couldnt, to be honest) but gadgets were not allowed in the SC. Something happened in court that day orchestrated by Tsatsu Tsikata and Addison sprang to his feet with a challenge. It was something relating to the number of pink sheets the petitioners were questioning. That day was KPMG report presentation day two I guess. We the press were somehow confused as to what the issue of contention really was that warranted the back and forth which resulted in the Justices even taking a break to rule on something to allow something happen or otherwise. Yes, you read right. We were confused. Let me tell you, most Journalists are almost always confused about one thing or the other. But wait a minute, dont get overexcited yet. Its in this confused state of mind that they are able to ask the probing questions to de-confuse themselves and in the process get the best for their publics.So we started a conversation among ourselves concerning what the bone of contention was about and in no time we were all in sync with each other and the proceedings. I sat in most of the proceedings but it was not out place for me to pick up the Daily Graphic the next morning and still wonder whether all that I was reading transpired in my presence? That was how good Mabels final output was. I have read from those who believe the award was a deserving one. They opined that the way and manner Mabel scripted her report was so balanced and fair to extent that it helped diffuse the tension that characterized the petition. Especially in the midst of very skewed reports and commentary not just from other media houses but members of the learned profession themselves. Now to the stolen bit. I read from a certain quarters especially from folks from one media house and I see a trend, which suggests someone else deserved the crown more. Their argument is that the award should celebrate originality and independence works rather than mere reporting of facts. For a moment, I was almost swayed or tempted to side with this line of reasoning but that was because I had not yet known who the other more deserving person was and his work (s) in question, until I visited a Folder and there you were!, Stolen award! That made me question the Originality and independence touts! Manesseh Azure Awunis work was premised on an Auditor Generals report ie GYEEDA as has been known all this while. He did an extensive follow-up and got the results credit be given and lest I forget, he got an award for that right? But of course in this case all award no be award abi?. Personally I think Manesseh ought not to have uttered a single word indicative of the fact that he feels had done for not getting the ultimate crown. The least he could have done was to let the public be the Atugubas (clearing my throat at this point) and the Dotses (speaking in a number 9 tone at this point). For what he has done will forever rob him of the moral and ethical ground to even congratulate the Winner, Mabel genuinely. It also will create the impression that he thinks of her as of a less intelligence to him. I know Manesseh doesnt in reality think less about Mabel in anyway. It will interest you to know that I got to know Mabel had authored a book about her coverage of the SC proceedings from Manesseh in a post on his timeline. In that post he did not only congratulate her but also shared how proud he was of her and I have no reason whatsoever to doubt him. Already Manesseh has taken on the entire awards committee and made nonsense of their intelligence and ability to reason independently. Why Im I saying this? I read there is a certain NDC communications team head on the committee and this guy masterminded Manessehs lost. This will presuppose that the rest of the committee members are....? Your guess is as good as mine. Manesseh Azure Awuni is a fine journalist in my opinion and he has an entire future ahead of him. And guess what? Its a very bright and eventful one. He has done the gate keeping job for the nation very well and saved the country huge sums of money in the process. But how he has approached the just ended GJA awards is not the best to say the least. It not only gives him away as a sour loser in some minds but makes it difficult for the committee to scrutinize his future works fairly, thats if he decides to enter the awards again since he might have lost trust in it. And to think he was awarded the prize in question in 2011 ahead of Anas Aremeyaw Anas should have induced much more restraint in him this time around. His fans and other media people Im sure would have put up a wonderful fight for him. All said and done, Im sure lessons have been learnt by all parties and will work towards a more controversy free future awards. In all these swipes, its heart warming to realise the winner has not reacted in any way or form. Eventhough controversies and awards are synonymous, Im however positive the less of it the better. Congrats to all the winners and the losers, better luck next time. Be graceful in losing.
Posted on: Tue, 02 Sep 2014 11:01:44 +0000
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