Anas Aremeyaw Anas of the New Crusading Guide on Friday night won two Awards at the 2009 edition of the Norbert Zongo Awards.

Anas was awarded the Norbert Zongo Grand Prize in Investigative journalism and the Segbo Excellence in Investigative Journalism 2009, for his groundbreaking expose on the work of Chinese human traffickers in Africa, which saw the rescue of seven trafficked Chinese girls and the prosecution of the three human traffickers.

The awards were presented on the occasion of the3rd international festival of freedom of Expression and Media in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Zenabou Tarpilga of the Burkina Faso National Radio won the grand prize in radio. Emmanuel Maya of The Sun in Nigeria was given a special mention.

Over 200 journalists from Africa were present at the ceremony to discuss current trends in journalism. At the ceremony, journalists shared their perspectives on the gains made in terms of media pluralism and the threatening challenges of press freedom which prevails in most countries. There was a call on journalists toremain more committed to ensure press freedom becomes a reality everywhere in Africa. The Gambia was cited as the country where the security situation of journalists is of most concern in the sub-region.

The Norbert Zongo Prize in investigative journalism is in memory of Burkinabe journalist Norbert Zongo who was murdered in December 13, 1998. His colleagues in the West African sub-region initiated the Awards to preserve his memory and encourage excellence in journalism which he embodied in Burkina Faso. This contest is open to member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) including Mauritania.

On 22nd October this year, Anas Aremeyaw Anas also won the second Prize for Africa in the Lorenzo Natali Prize 2009. The Award, which was organized by the European Commission and held in Stockholm, Sweden, was in recognition of Anas’ role in exposing the Chinese trafficking ring in Africa.