By Kaddy Jawo
At its Fourth Edition of Annual Award program that recognizes excellence in various categories of reporting, The Gambia Press Union has on Friday, July 12th, issued number of awards to reporters, journalists and other distinguished personalities for their outstanding performance in news reporting and their extraordinary efforts in advancing freedom of expression in the country.
Held at Labranda Coral Hotel – formerly Sheraton, the ceremony brought together distinguished personalities, reporters, journalists, writers, and other media practitioners from different media outlets in the country. Esau William of BBC chaired the jury that was empaneled to determine the winners. Other members of the jury include Agnes Thomasi of WADR, Abdoulie Kurang of the University of The Gambia, and Aisha Dabo, formerly with the Independent Newspaper.
Based on their assessment of the quality of reporting on various thematic areas of journalism the jury issued the awards as thus:
Business and finance reporting award went to Kebba Jeffang of the Chronicle newspaper; QTV’s Momodou Gajaga and Alieu Ceesay captured awards for best reporting on sports, Health and Agriculture respectively; Falilou M.I. Janko and Isatou Jatta of The Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS) received awards for best reporting on the plight of women, and children issues respectively; Sankulay Jallow, West Africa Democracy Radio (WADR) reporter, received award for best radio journalist and foreign news media correspondent. A plot of land was also issued to him in recognition of his outstanding performance; Bwiam community Radio received the best community radio award.
Mustapha K. Darboe, Vice President of The Gambia Press Union and a media practitioner at Kerr Fatou media outlet, received, by far, the most outstanding awards. Besides his recognition for outstanding performance in both print and online reporting, the Kerr Fatou reporter also received awards for outstanding reporting on politics, human rights and environmental issues. With a total of four awards under his belt, Darboe received a cash price of 5000 Dalasis for each of the four awards, and a plot of land donated by S & S Properties.
Other recipients of awards and appreciation include Abubacarr Tambadou—Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Awa Sisay-Sabally and Femi Falana. Falana and Sisay-Sabally are both distinguished solicitors and advocate for press freedom. According to the organizers of the event, these categories of awardees are very special given the extraordinary efforts they have each invested in promoting press freedom in The Gambia.
According to Sheriff Bojang Jr., the President of The Gambia Press Union, Tambadou has been a great friend of journalists in The Gambia. He is honored for playing a leading role not only in the promotion of freedom of expression in the country but for also his role in making sure that the verdict of the ECOWAS court on journalists and reporters who sued the Gambian government was respected, and ensured that the aggrieved parties were compensated. Both Sisay-Sabally and Falana at various times represented The Gambia Press Union or its members in litigations in local or international courts.