The Open Forum for Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) has awarded three journalists for their contributions toward agriculture and science reporting at its National Media Awards.
Two of the journalists, Prosper Kwame Kuorsah and Iddi Yire, who works at the Ghana News Agency, were respectively adjudged winner and first runner up of the online and print category, while the other, Philip Bagyiliko Tengzu, winner of the Radio and Television category, works at Radio Mak in Wa.
They were awarded with plaques, iPads, hampers and cash prices.
The trio will also participate in this year’s OFAB Africa Regional Awards to be held in September in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
The OFAB, an initiative of African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), is a platform that provides an opportunity for biotechnology stakeholders to network, share knowledge and experiences.
It also allows them to explore new avenues of bringing the benefits of biotechnology to the African farmer and investor.
The award aims at recognising exemplary journalism that stimulates best practices in the adoption of agricultural technologies; particularly agricultural biotechnology.
Dr Richard Ampadu-Ameyaw, OFAB Ghana National Coordinator, and a Senior Research Scientists at CSIR –STEPRI, said among the responsibilities of OFAB, was to enhance knowledge sharing among stakeholders, such as journalists, farmers and civil society organisations.
He noted that to facilitate education on modern agricultural biotechnology, on safety importance and disadvantages, journalists were needed to make this objective possible.
Dr Ampadu-Ameyaw stressed that, the objectives of the awards was to promote excellence in science journalism and to promote balance in sustainable agriculture.
He said it was to recognise and honour journalists for their critical roles in promoting science and technology.
Speaking on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), Dr Ampadu-Ameyaw noted that, they were still educating the public on GMO foods.
Biotechnology and Nuclear Agricultural Research Institute’s Director, Prof. Kenneth Danso, of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, addressing the attendees, said scientists are sometimes so busy during a research that they don’t get time to communicate, hence the importance of journalists to support in the dissemination of their findings and recommendations.