THE GJA AWARD, MY CATEGORY AND THE STORY BEHIND IT

 

Some have been wondering and others have been asking about the category of award I won on Saturday at the Ghana Journalists’ Association awards.

The category was TRANSPORT AND ROAD SAFETY (PRINT) and the story that won the award was about the preventable accidents that continue to occur in the infamous Asitey curve - located on the Odumase-Oterkpolu road - the resultant fatalities and injuries.

The story was done in partnership with a colleague, Seth J. Bokpe. Our first attempt at telling the story about the disturbing trend was in 2009, eleven solid years ago. I remember we did an extensive investigation into the phenomenon. The two of us had to travel all the way to Koforidua to engage the then Regional Manager of the Ghana Highways Authority. We got the story published in the Daily Graphic newspaper and expected that it would jerk the duty bearers out of their slumber to remedy the situation.

Several years down the line, the situation remained same and more terrible accidents were recorded in rapid succession at the same spot – in the curve located at the end of a steep escarpment.

Between 15^th and 18^th June 2019 alone, there have been three reported accidents, resulting in 10 deaths and injuries to about 63 people. The above statistics include seven deaths and more than 50 injured members of the St. Barbara Catholic Church in Akosombo who were on a return trip from a funeral. A few days after that ghastly accident at the spot, another accident nearby killed three persons. On June 18, a tipper truck went off the road and ended up in the drain to the right of the curve.

In October 2018, a science teacher of the Mangoase Senior High School died at this same spot when the bus on which he and some 56 students were travelling reportedly failed its brake and crashed into the valley.

In this story that won the award, we traced the phenomenon to twenty years back and shared scary statistics including research findings and recommendations on how the recurring crashes could be averted or at least reduced.

We also looked for some of the surviving but maimed victims of the numerous crashes who recounted their ordeal and ‘miserable’ life after the accidents. One of such people was Madam Dede Kosi from Kodjonya whose right leg was amputated as a result of an accident at the same spot 22 years ago.

Madam Kosi who presently uses a prosthetic leg, owned and operated a flourishing business at the time. She was transporting her wares together with some of her colleague traders when they came crashing, an event that threw her life and those of her dependents into disarray. Some of the victims ‘checked out of life’; she was lucky to have survived but she lost a leg. Her business and aspirations came tumbling as a result.

It will interest you to know that not even the Ghana Police Service or the Municipal Assembly could readily produce data on the repeated accidents. That is how serious the situation is. The authorities have absolutely no data to inform their decision on what to. It makes you understand why the situation remains same, because you simply cannot appreciate the severity of the issue without any meaningful data. Anytime accidents occurred at the spot, the authorities went there to transport victims and cleared wreckage/debris at the place apparently in readiness for the next crash. Can you imagine?

And so folks, this is but a gist of the story behind the award. It’s more of a recognition of the effort that goes into the stories I do at leisure. Journalism has been my dream but I found myself doing something else soon after school. For now, it’s more of a past time.

Click the link below and read the award winning story in detail.

If you meet my friend, no, brother, Seth J. Bokpe, somewhere, give him a hug, he is such a skillful writer. His works and how he goes about them make journalism so inviting. 

 

PICTURES:

Pic 1: Seth and I in a pose shortly after receiving the award

Pic 2: A short of the infamous Asitey curve

Pic 3: One of the many vehicles that crashed at in the curve

Pic 4: Madam Dede Kosi, one of the survivors of the many crashes. Her right leg was amputated after her accident in the curve

Pic 5: Award winners from the Graphic Communications Group in a pose with Information Minister, Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah

6. ‘Opana” showcasing the award

DONALD GWIRA, AN ANGEL IN HUMAN FORM

 DONALD GWIRA, AN ANGEL IN HUMAN FORM

Many who have monitored my education and, if you like, career, keep wondering why I ‘betrayed’ my first love’, journalism, and veered into something else soon after graduating from the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ).  Till date, a lot these people who knew about my level of obsession with journalism keep asking what could be keeping me away from the career I was so passionate about, growing up.

That is another story to be told. Today, I simply want to tell you about some really refreshing experiences that have come to convince me beyond doubt that angels exist in human form right here on earth. If you haven’t encountered any, I have.

In 2009, I had a golden opportunity to join the corporate communications department of Zain Telecommunications Ghana (which later transformed into Airtel Ghana); my job title was PR Coordinator and I was mainly in charge of Media Relations - a role I really fancied at the time.

The people I met in there and the interesting learning experiences I went through have been the most compelling set of factors that influenced what I still consider a prudent switch from journalism (my first love) to Public Relations.

Mr. Donald Gwira was one of the bosses I was privileged to work with. He joined the company as the head of the Communications Department around the time I was wrapping up my stint with the firm and so we parted company just around the time our paths crossed. I don’t remember working with (or under) him for more than three months – I had to go and I left. He knew very little about me so I didn’t really expect him to do me any favour.

Unbeknown to me, this man had spotted something in me and took special interest in my career. It was a pleasant surprise when I had a call from one of the breweries to come for assessment for the role of a communications officer, based on Donald’s recommendation. Guess what, I missed that big opportunity narrowly because of some basic errors in the script I produced during the written assessment. 'The thing pain me oooo'.

In my estimation, I had embarrassed him and shredded the confidence he had in me but he proved me wrong and drew even closer. The relationship grew stronger; Donald will not stop pampering me like his own son. He kept showing me the way to the top of the PR profession and throwing more offers at me.

Toward the mid of 2018, I had just resigned from my job due to ill-health and was shuttling between hospitals fiercely fighting my way back to good health. I was gradually mending but there was no immediate plan to return to full time employment. Then the call came from one of these finance companies that someone had strongly recommended me for the position of a Corporate Communications Manager. I couldn’t escape the conclusion that Donald was architect behind the move. A call to him would later confirm that.  

Despite that fact that I was trapped in an ailing body, I was hesitant giving him excuses so I prayed about it and consulted a few friends including 'that boy' called Paa Kwesi Forson to pick their brain on my dilemma – to go or not to go, given the challenges at hand. They were all like ‘go”, don’t allow the sickness to hold you down.  

I attended two interviews; saying they were grueling will be an understatement, but I came top of the candidates and had my offer letter waiting for the agreed date to start work in a new environment and a new sector that promised to be challenging and equally rewarding.

While I was relishing the prospect, I had yet another call from a leading brand in the media space and the news was that someone had recommended me to take up the role of CSR Manager. I attended that interview too. In essence, I had these two opportunities to choose from. I settled for the former, after thorough consideration and took up the Corporate Communications Manager role in May 2018.

You won’t believe that Donald drove, on many occasions, to my office to see how I was faring and offer some tips to enable me excel in the role. I can go on and on and on.  

I think Donald believes in me more than I do myself. When you have people like this around you, you can only reach for the skies. It is this belief in me that makes me feel like I can be (and will be) the next UN Secretary General from Ghana. I have started working on that dream, and bigger ones.

Folks, do convey gratitude to Donald, and remember to tell him I said I will make him proud one day.