From left Rayborn Bulley (IFEJ President), Henry Kerali (Country Director, WBG), Emmanuel Kuyelo (CEDA Executive Director) and Professor John Gatsi (Chair of Jury).
The Institute of Financial and Economic Journalists (IFEJ) on Tuesday launched the 5th Flamingo Awards.
Chair of the Jury for the awards, Professor John Gatsi, said the essence of the award is to recognize business and financial journalists who reported quality business and finance stories in Ghana.
He advised entrants to read and pay attention to the criteria and scoring system for the awards.
Emmanuel Kuyole, Executive Director of the Centre for Extractive and Development Africa (CEDA), in a remark, lauded financial and business reporters who probed issues to educate the public more about business, economical and financial issues in the country.
“Journalists should always remember that their role is not just to report on what someone has said or what has happened but to investigate and critically analyze issues objectively to better educate citizens,” according to him.
Speaking on the theme for the awards, “Towards Better management of natural resources for inclusive growth and development,” he said Ghana should domestically look for natural resources and finances to boost economic development.
He stated that it was important for journalists to be informed on the use of natural resources, especially the oil and gas sector so that they could pass on the information to their readers.
He said that would ensure good negotiations between the government and companies, as well as communities and citizens.
Categories for the awards include Best Natural Resource Feature or News Story (The Ultimate Award); Best Information and Communication Technology feature or News Story; Best Agro-Business feature or News Story; Best Tourism feature or News Story; Best Business/Manufacturing feature or News Story and Best Finance feature or news story.
Others are Best Health feature or news story; Best local economy feature or news story and Best Development feature.
By Maame Anima Akowuah