It was a big night for journalists across West Africa at the 3rd edition of the West Africa Media Excellence Conference and Awards held in Accra, Ghana.

According to organizers of the awards, West Africa Media Foundation, the 2019 West Africa Media Excellence Awards received 724 entries from over 15 countries in West Africa.

The 5-member jury of the Awards after a thorough review of the entries shortlisted 21 finalists from six countries.

Ghanaian international journalist, Nabil Ahmed Rufai, was adjudged the best journalist for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) reporting on the night of the awards.

He beat competition from two Burkina Faso journalists in that category.

According to the judges, Nabil’s story ‘Educating The Poor’ which highlighted the poor conditions pupils of a rural community in the Upper East region of Ghana stood out among the other entries.

Nabil, through his report, was able to get an NGO, McDan Foundation, to build an 8-unit classroom block for the pupils of the Teong Primary School who previously sat in sand under a tree to take their lessons.



Nabil Ahmed Rufai worked on the story while with GHOne TV, a local station in Ghana.

Nabil Ahmed Rufai has ten years’ experience in journalism; reporting on human interest stories, business and politics. He currently works with a US News Agency - Feature Story News - and reports for various international news stations including China Global Television Network (CGTN), formerly CCTV, and Turkey-based station, TRT World.

Watch Nabil Ahmed Rufai's winning report.