President Kufour: Good governance, Africa's biggest challenge
Gilbert Boyefio
21/07/2008
President John Agyekum Kufuor has observed that the overriding challenge facing Africa is good governance which in essence is the all inclusive participation in the Constitutional running of various countries on the basis of transparency and accountability by the governors and responsible discharge of roles and duties by the governed within the polity.
Speaking at the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards 2008 held at the State Banquet Hall, Accra, President Kufuor however pointed out that the Constitution of all the regional bodies in Africa such as the AU, NEPAD and APRM recognized commitment for human rights, tolerance, democracy and good governance, which they are pursuing "with significant success so far being chalked".
He explained that in this scheme of things, information dissemination and appraisal are critical hence the importance of the media. He said the media is therefore a truly estate of the realm, and must discharge this duties with exceptional sense of responsibility for the welfare and proper development of the society and nation. "This calls for their always placing our society first and indeed in the proper perspective of our historical, internal and international evolution and development."
He described the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards as the acknowledgment of hard work by journalists on the continent, noting that the award challenges media practitioners to rise up to the highest level of professionalism which can only auger well for the entire continent.
According to Tony Madox, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of CNN International, the competition over the years has grown in terms of scope and quality.
He noted that this year's event has unearthed a wealth of voices, some old, some new, from around Africa, each with a compelling story to tell, and each demonstrating a quality of journalism, and in some cases a resourcefulness and bravery in pursuing the story in the first place.
He said CNN takes its responsibility as the world's leading news broadcaster very seriously and seek to support and promote journalistic excellence in their coverage of the African continent.
He disclosed that CNN is currently undertaking one of the most committed expansions of news gathering capabilities in the history of broadcast television. "At considerable investment, we are opening bureaus here in Africa, in Asia, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East, adding to our bureaus already established around the world. Reporters, producers and camera crews are being hired across the world," he added.
Tony Madox was of the view that CNN expansion in Africa emphasises its commitment to the continent, pointing out that this year, CNN has broadened its newsgathering presence in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa and have made four new appointments, two based in Johannesburg, one in Nairobi and one in Lagos. He said "Our aim is to ensure that our viewers have the most comprehensive, vibrant reporting on this most diverse and fascinating of continents."
In the main event, Hopewell Rugoho-Chin’ono of Television International, for Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, Zimbabwe, was adjudged CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards 2008 winner. He also won the Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation Award for Excellence in HIV/AIDS reporting with his article titled "Pain in my heart".
Ghana’s Israel Laryea of Joy FM won the Radio General News Award, with his piece titled "Naa Koshie, victim of child abuse". However, the other Ghanaian finalist Daniel Nkrumah of Daily Graphic who was selected for the Environment Award was beaten to it by Emmanuel Mayah of the Sun Newspaper, Nigeria, with the article titled "The Silk Worm Genocide".
Other award winners are Arts and Culture Award, Barbara Angopa, NTV, Uganda with article titled "Teso’s Peace Music"; TV General News Award, Deji Badmus, Channels Television, Nigeria, with article titled "Third Mainland Bridge"; MIH Print Africa- Best Feature in a Consumer Magazine Award, Marjorie Copeland, Freelance for Marie Claire, South Africa, with " Your child may still be in danger"; Economics and Business Award, John Grobber, Freelance for The Namibia, Namibia, with "Mafia linked to the Namibia Gems".
The rest are Portuguese Language General News Awards, Fernando Lima, Jornal Savana, Mozambique with "Quando o Rio Zangou & No Epicentro da Crise"; Print General News Awards, Richard Mgamba, Sunday Citizen Newspaper, Tanzania with "Buzwagi: The untold story of a controversial mining deal"; TV General News- Current Affairs Features Award, Peter Moyo, e.tv, South Africa with "Root of all evil"; MSD Health & Medical Award, Bamuturaki Musinguzi, The EastAfrican Newspaper, Uganda with "The silent killer"; Sport Award, Mutwiri Mutuota, Kenya Times, Kenya with "The art of cheering".
The remaining are Mohammed Amin Photography Award, Boniface Mwangi, The Standard, Kenya with "Under Siege"; Francophone General News Award (Radio), Koumoureoua Issa Napon, Radio Television du Burkina, Burkina Faso, with "Yako, situation D’enfants orpailleurs"; Francophone General News Award (Print), Nassima Oulebsir, Le Jeune Independent, Algeria with "Ces Enfants Interdits…D’ecole!"; Tourism Award, Evaline Ngono, CRTV, Cameroon with "Mythes et realities du Mont Cameroon"; The Free Press Africa Award, Seyhoum Tsehaye, Eritrea, who has been in prison since 2001, for a critical article he wrote for the newspaper, Setit, sympathetic to the politicians and journalists who were imprisoned by the Government. His award was received on his behalf by his wife.
The CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards, which has become the standard for excellence in journalism throughout the African continent, has been running for the past 14 years. It is the one award that journalists and media houses throughout the continent would want to be associated with.
Since the first ceremony in Ghana on August 11, 1995, numerous African cities such as Cape Town, Maputo and Nairobi have hosted the awards. Previous winners hail from countries as diverse as Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe. This is the second time the event has been held in Accra, representing a more than symbolic homecoming of awards, to their country of birth.
21/07/2008
President John Agyekum Kufuor has observed that the overriding challenge facing Africa is good governance which in essence is the all inclusive participation in the Constitutional running of various countries on the basis of transparency and accountability by the governors and responsible discharge of roles and duties by the governed within the polity.
Speaking at the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards 2008 held at the State Banquet Hall, Accra, President Kufuor however pointed out that the Constitution of all the regional bodies in Africa such as the AU, NEPAD and APRM recognized commitment for human rights, tolerance, democracy and good governance, which they are pursuing "with significant success so far being chalked".
He explained that in this scheme of things, information dissemination and appraisal are critical hence the importance of the media. He said the media is therefore a truly estate of the realm, and must discharge this duties with exceptional sense of responsibility for the welfare and proper development of the society and nation. "This calls for their always placing our society first and indeed in the proper perspective of our historical, internal and international evolution and development."
He described the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards as the acknowledgment of hard work by journalists on the continent, noting that the award challenges media practitioners to rise up to the highest level of professionalism which can only auger well for the entire continent.
According to Tony Madox, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of CNN International, the competition over the years has grown in terms of scope and quality.
He noted that this year's event has unearthed a wealth of voices, some old, some new, from around Africa, each with a compelling story to tell, and each demonstrating a quality of journalism, and in some cases a resourcefulness and bravery in pursuing the story in the first place.
He said CNN takes its responsibility as the world's leading news broadcaster very seriously and seek to support and promote journalistic excellence in their coverage of the African continent.
He disclosed that CNN is currently undertaking one of the most committed expansions of news gathering capabilities in the history of broadcast television. "At considerable investment, we are opening bureaus here in Africa, in Asia, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East, adding to our bureaus already established around the world. Reporters, producers and camera crews are being hired across the world," he added.
Tony Madox was of the view that CNN expansion in Africa emphasises its commitment to the continent, pointing out that this year, CNN has broadened its newsgathering presence in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa and have made four new appointments, two based in Johannesburg, one in Nairobi and one in Lagos. He said "Our aim is to ensure that our viewers have the most comprehensive, vibrant reporting on this most diverse and fascinating of continents."
In the main event, Hopewell Rugoho-Chin’ono of Television International, for Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, Zimbabwe, was adjudged CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards 2008 winner. He also won the Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation Award for Excellence in HIV/AIDS reporting with his article titled "Pain in my heart".
Ghana’s Israel Laryea of Joy FM won the Radio General News Award, with his piece titled "Naa Koshie, victim of child abuse". However, the other Ghanaian finalist Daniel Nkrumah of Daily Graphic who was selected for the Environment Award was beaten to it by Emmanuel Mayah of the Sun Newspaper, Nigeria, with the article titled "The Silk Worm Genocide".
Other award winners are Arts and Culture Award, Barbara Angopa, NTV, Uganda with article titled "Teso’s Peace Music"; TV General News Award, Deji Badmus, Channels Television, Nigeria, with article titled "Third Mainland Bridge"; MIH Print Africa- Best Feature in a Consumer Magazine Award, Marjorie Copeland, Freelance for Marie Claire, South Africa, with " Your child may still be in danger"; Economics and Business Award, John Grobber, Freelance for The Namibia, Namibia, with "Mafia linked to the Namibia Gems".
The rest are Portuguese Language General News Awards, Fernando Lima, Jornal Savana, Mozambique with "Quando o Rio Zangou & No Epicentro da Crise"; Print General News Awards, Richard Mgamba, Sunday Citizen Newspaper, Tanzania with "Buzwagi: The untold story of a controversial mining deal"; TV General News- Current Affairs Features Award, Peter Moyo, e.tv, South Africa with "Root of all evil"; MSD Health & Medical Award, Bamuturaki Musinguzi, The EastAfrican Newspaper, Uganda with "The silent killer"; Sport Award, Mutwiri Mutuota, Kenya Times, Kenya with "The art of cheering".
The remaining are Mohammed Amin Photography Award, Boniface Mwangi, The Standard, Kenya with "Under Siege"; Francophone General News Award (Radio), Koumoureoua Issa Napon, Radio Television du Burkina, Burkina Faso, with "Yako, situation D’enfants orpailleurs"; Francophone General News Award (Print), Nassima Oulebsir, Le Jeune Independent, Algeria with "Ces Enfants Interdits…D’ecole!"; Tourism Award, Evaline Ngono, CRTV, Cameroon with "Mythes et realities du Mont Cameroon"; The Free Press Africa Award, Seyhoum Tsehaye, Eritrea, who has been in prison since 2001, for a critical article he wrote for the newspaper, Setit, sympathetic to the politicians and journalists who were imprisoned by the Government. His award was received on his behalf by his wife.
The CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards, which has become the standard for excellence in journalism throughout the African continent, has been running for the past 14 years. It is the one award that journalists and media houses throughout the continent would want to be associated with.
Since the first ceremony in Ghana on August 11, 1995, numerous African cities such as Cape Town, Maputo and Nairobi have hosted the awards. Previous winners hail from countries as diverse as Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe. This is the second time the event has been held in Accra, representing a more than symbolic homecoming of awards, to their country of birth.
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