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Accra, Nov 01, GNA – Mr Solomon Gumah, a stringer at the Tamale Office of the Ghana News Agency (GNA), has won the Print/Online Category of the 2025 Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) Media Awards. The award was in recognition of Mr Gumah’s outstanding contribution to public education and awareness creation on the role of agricultural biotechnology in enhancing food security in the country. His winning story focused on the official release of the Pod Borer Resistant (PBR) Cowpea, locally known as Songotra-T by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and partners, highlighting how the innovation was inspiring women’s access to farmlands and agricultural opportunities. Mr Gumah won alongside Mr Noah Nash, Northern Regional Correspondent of the Excellence in Broadcasting (EIB) Network, who received the Television Category award. Both winners received plaques, a cheque for GH¢3,000.00 each, and a hamper of confectioneries. They would also represent Ghana at the continental OFAB Media Awards in Kenya where the overall winner from 10 participating African countries namely Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, Malawi, Tanzania, Burkina Faso, Rwanda, Uganda, and Mozambique, would be announced. This year’s awards ceremony, the eighth edition of the OFAB Media Awards, was held on the theme: “Promoting Credible and Balanced Science Reporting for Quality Seed Development and Food Security”. Professor Kenneth Danso, a Member of the Vetting Committee, speaking during the awards ceremony in Accra on Friday, expressed satisfaction with the quality of entries received describing them as a reflection of the growing interest of Ghanaian journalists in science and biotechnology reporting. He said the selection criteria focused on originality, creativity, and the ability of journalists to communicate complex scientific concepts to the public in simple and engaging ways. Prof Danso congratulated all the awardees and urged more journalists to take advantage of the initiative to enhance their careers and contribute to the country’s food security agenda. Mr Enoch Ilori, Project Officer, OFAB Ghana, said the media awards formed part of efforts by the organisation to recognize journalists, who promoted balanced, accurate, and insightful reporting on agricultural biotechnology. He said OFAB Ghana, established in 2011, under the auspices of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) and the CSIR, served as a platform that bridged the gap between scientists, policymakers, and the public to foster informed decision-making on biotechnology. Mr Ilori said despite the transformative potential of biotechnology, misinformation and skepticism continued to hinder its acceptance in many parts of the world. He, therefore, urged journalists to employ evidence-based reporting to educate the public and demystify misconceptions around genetically modified organisms. Mr Zadok Kwame Gyesi, Public Affairs Officer, Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), who delivered an address on “The Role of Evidence-Based Reporting in the Adoption of Genetically Modified Products Post-Commercialisation Approval”, emphasized the critical role of the media in shaping public perception about scientific innovations. He said Ghana’s successful release of the PBR Cowpea in 2024 marked a major milestone in agricultural science, but also attracted misinformation and fear underscoring the need for journalists to work closely with scientists to promote factual and contextual reporting. The OFAB Media Awards serves as an annual platform to celebrate excellence in agricultural biotechnology journalism across Africa encouraging reporters to highlight science-based innovations that address food security, climate resilience and sustainable development. Edited by Eric K. Amoh/Lydia Kukua Asamoah
