
The Eastern Regional Correspondent of the Daily Statesman newspaper and the Managing Editor of the Evening Mail, Kwasi Frimpong, has been adjudged the Best Journalist in Environmental Reporting in the Eastern Region. This is the second time in a row that he has received same award after receiving it last year.

Kwasi Frimpong won the award this year with a story he did on the ‘Oda Big Tree’, the Biggest Tree in West Africa which caught the attention of the Asene Manso Akroso District Assembly and the Ghana Tourism Development Authority to start scouting for investors to develop the area into a proper tourism hub. The story revealed how indiscriminate deforestation in the Forest where the Tree is located can ‘harm’ the tree itself.
GJA Awards
The Eastern Regional Branch of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) awarded excelling journalists at the Second Edition of its Awards. The awards aimed at motivating and increasing credible reporting among journalists in the Region was themed: ‘Securing A Malaria Free Ghana, Role of the Media.’
The Second Edition of the Award’s event, which took place at the Royal Mac Dic hotel at Koforidua saw The Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin stressing on the relevance of journalists in the socio economic development of the country.

The Okyenhene spoke on the need for journalists to take critical steps in ensuring that much effort will be put towards improving Agriculture, Education and Road networking, which he believes has more productivity effect on the country saying much has not been done in improving those sectors.
On his part, the Eastern regional Minster, Eric Kwakye Daffour commended the journalists for the good work they are doing in the region and asked them to cooperate with the Regional Coordinating Council to make the region a better place than it is now. He stressed on the need for the journalists to raise awareness on major development setbacks that comes up in the region.

Awardees
The GJA awards saw Seven awards given in the competitive categories at the ceremony whiles two other media houses Starr TV and Myfm in Koforidua were honoured as the most promising media houses in the region.
The awards were Best Indigenous Newscaster which was won by Kwaku Aboagye Apenteng of Kingdom Fm, Best Journalist in Development program won by Felix Yaw Adjei of Okwahu FM and Crime and Court Reporting won by Daniel Bampoe of Daily Guide.
Others were the Best Journalist in Road Safety Reporting won by Ama Takyiwaa Agyemang of The Ghanaian Times, Best Journalist in Rural Reporting won by Sylvanus Gatorwu with Bertha Badu Agyei winning the Health reporting category.
Other Honoury awards went to some individuals and institutions for their contributions and good work done towards ensuring an effective and efficient GJA in the Eastern Region.
