Accra, Aug. 13, GNA - Graphic Communications Group Limited and five organisations on Monday donated a total of GH=A2 20,600 (206 million cedis) to the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) towards the 12th GJA Awards night scheduled for next weekend.

Graphic Communications donated GH=A2 10,000 (100 million cedis) and Mr Albert Sam, Public Affairs Manager of Graphic, who presented a cheque on behalf of the organization, noted that it was the first time that a media organization was making such a donation towards the GJA Awards.

He said Graphic Communications Group was committed to having a vibrant and effective GJA while improving professionalism in the media.

"To achieve this we want to be the single major sponsor," Mr. Sam said.

Mr. Akwasi Acquah, Public Relations Manager of the National Health Insurance Scheme, also announced a GH=A2 2,000 (20 million cedis) package for the Best Health Reporter. He said the NHIS saw it as a social responsibility to support the media, noting that the media were partners in the dissemination of news about the scheme.

Mr. Robert Sarkodie Addo from Combert Impressions also announced a GH=A2 2,000, (20 million cedis) package being 50 per cent of the cost of printing the brochures for the programme. He said the support from Combert went to testify the expectations that society had with respect to what journalists could do in nation-building.

Other sponsors included Newmont Ghana Limited who announced a GH=A2 2,600, (26 million cedis) package, including a laptop computer for the best Investigative Reporter. Mr. Chris Anderson, Managing Director of Newmont Ghana Limited said his organization was passionate about transparency, especially in governance, hence the support to encourage journalists to investigate issues even if they affected Newmont.

"Investigative journalism is important," he held.

Standard Bank of Africa (STANBIC) also donated GH=A2 2,000 Ghana cedis (20 million cedis) to support the best rural reporter. Mr Martey Abobi who represented Drola Bosso Adamtey, Se Suaporlar (Peacemaker) of the Shai Traditional Area, donated GH=A2 2,000, (20 million cedis) for the best journalist championing peace. He said the traditional council stood for peace hence the support for peace in the award for journalists.

Mr Ransford Tetteh, President of the GJA, expressing gratitude to the donors, said there was the need to recognize the work of journalists.

"There is the need to support the media so that they can grow," he stressed and said it was normal that there was diversity in the media where some media organizations supported the government and others the opposition.

Mr Tetteh called on society to be the media's watchdog so that together the nation could attain the level of media development that the country was yearning for.