Manasseh Azure Awuni, a freelancer has emerged the 2011 Ghana Journalist Association's Journalist of the Year. Azure capped a superb night where he won four other categories by emerging as the finest journalist in Ghana for the year 2011 at the 17th GJA Awards held at the Banquet Hall, State House. A little over thirty awards were given to journalists and media houses who excelled during the year under review. After his crowning as the best journalist in the country, an emotional Azure expressed gratitude to his father for the gift of education. Azure, who at last year's edition of the GJA awards won three awards scooped the award which was won last year by Joy FM's Kweku Owusu Peprah. Kweku Owusu took home the Best Report on HIV/AIDS award. The theme for the awards was "Giving credence to elections and democratic stability: the role of the journalist" and was chaired by Professor Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, Director, Legon Center for International Affairs and Diplomacy, University of Ghana. His Eminence Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson, President Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace at the Vatican, who was the guest speaker called on journalists not to exploit the internal cracks of political parties for their selfish interest. His Eminence Appiah Turkson advised journalists to unite the country with their reportage and not divide with bias reporting that would open ethnic cracks. The awards were handed to journalists from print and electronic media houses. The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation had six of its journalist taking home various awards. In his opening address, GJA President, Ransford Tetteh said the "Ghanaian media have a constitutional responsibility to enhance the transparency and credibility of all elections in Ghana under their broad constitutional mandate to promote the accountability of public officials to the governed." Mr. Tetteh also added that the GJA is positioning itself with a series of training programmes for its members that would make them the forerunners in the coverage of the December 2012 elections. Below is the full awards list. Journalist of the Year Manasseh Azure Awuni Best Report in TV Manasseh Azure Awuni Best Features Print Manasseh Azure Awuni (Freelancer) & Doreen Hammond Best Report on Social Security Michael Oti (Metro TV) Best Feature for Radio Neslon Nyado (Diamond FM) Best Report on Water Edmund Smith Asante – Ghana Business News Best Report on Human Rights with Focus on Children Albert Oppong Ansah (Ghana News Agency) Best Report on Arts, Entertainment and Domestic Tourism Akua Oforiwaa Darko Best Report on Health Richard Bright Addo (Net2) Best Report on SMEs Shirley Asiedu Addo (Daily Graphic) Best Report on Agric Features Desk - TV Africa Best Newspaper Layout and Design The Finder Best Report on Sanitation Manasseh Awuni Azure Best Report on Anti-Corruption Emmanuel K. Dogbevi (Ghana Business News) Best Report on Development Journalism for furthering the MDGs Suuk Nelson (Diamond FM) Best Report on Oil and Gas Sector Albert Futukpor (Ghana News Agency) Best Report on HIV/AIDS Kweku Owusu Peprah (Joy FM) Kwadwo Baah Wiredu Best Report in Business & Finance & Economic Reporting Emilia Enin Abbey (Business Guide) Best Report on the Environment Emilia Enin Abbey (Business Guide) Best in Investigative Reporting Moses Dotse Aklorbortu (Daily Graphic) Best Report in Education (Print) Sepenyo Dzokoto (Ghana News Agency) Best News Report for Print Dzifa Emma Tetteh (Ghanaian Times) News Report on TV Manasseh Awuni Azure Best Feature on Radio Diamond FM Best Feature on TV Sarah Ofori (Ghana Television) Best Report on Telecommunication Samuel Nii Narku Dowuona (Adom FM) Best Media House for Democracy and Peace Building Ghana Broadcasting Corporation Best Radio/TV programme (Akan) Radio Peace 88.9 Winneba Best Radio/TV Programme (Ga) Negbe Nyeshe (Obonu FM) Best Rural Reporting Isaac Kaledzi (Citi FM) Best Report on the disabled: Jamila Akweley Okertchiri(Daily Guide) Best Report on Sports: Rosemary Gaisie (Ghana Broadcasting Corporation) Best in Parliamentary Reporting: Emmanuel Adu Gyamera (Daily Graphic) Best in Photo Journalism: Geoffrey Buttah (Ghanaian Times) Best in Political Reporting: Kofi Enchill (The Heritage) Best Report on Science: Ghana Broadcasting Corporation Honorary Award Fiifi Nettey

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