Second Lady Samira Bawumia presenting a laptop-computer to one of the awardees
Thirty winners of the Samira Bawumia Literature Prize have been rewarded by the Samira Empowerment and Humanitarian Project (SEHP).
The winners were the best among thousands of entries received in the 2022 edition at a ceremony held in Accra.
The recognition for the best literature entries is one of the major programmes launched in 2020 by the SEHP to support and encourage aspiring young Ghanaian writers while contributing to the growing Ghanaian literary space.
The ceremony, which was under the theme, “We Move Ghanaian Dream in Motion” had three categories, poetry, short fiction and creative non-fiction.
The winners who espoused on a range of topics such as politics, governance, transportation, relationship, agriculture, and poverty among others were each honoured for their contribution to society through the art of writing.
In the poetry category, Gabriel Awuah Mainoo emerged first, Phinehas Osei also placed first in the short fiction category, and Henneh Kwaku Kyereh topped the creative non-fiction category while Afua Twumwaa, Luther Dewilaa Fembeti and Makonk Najah placed second in the various categories respectively.
First place winners were awarded laptop-computers and cash prizes of GH¢5,000, second place winners also received GH¢3,000, third place winners received GH¢2,000, while fourth to 10th position in each category also received GH¢1,000.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Patron and Founder of the Samira Bawumia Literature Prize award, Mrs. Samira Bawumia, said the biennial literary prize seeks to among others also nurture and provide the environment for aspiring young Ghanaian writers to develop their literary skills, having received over two thousand entries since it started in 2020.
“Our approach at SBLP is to showcase, by publishing the works of our shortlisted writers, train as many writers as possible, and raise interest and awareness within the space. The Samira Bawumia Literature Prize presents a platform through which these stories and perspectives can be shared. It also encourages Ghanaians to read Ghanaian writers,” she said.
According to the Second Lady, all top thirty shortlisted entries across categories will also have their works published in the second edition of the anthology “All Ghana A Stage.”
The competition grooms talents through tailored workshops and exposes their creativity through the publishing of their entries. The maiden edition was climaxed with the publication of the anthology “All Ghana A Stage,” a compilation of the top thirty (30) winning entries.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah