By Daniel Bampoe
Investigative journalist Edward Adeti was crowned the 28th P.A.V. Ansah Journalist of the Year at the 2025 Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards, held in conjunction with the World Press Freedom Day celebration in Accra on Friday, May 2.
The award, which is the highest recognition in Ghanaian journalism, celebrates excellence, bravery, and commitment to public interest reporting.
Edward Adeti was lauded for his significant contributions to strengthening accountability and transparency in governance.
In addition to the honorary plaque, Edward Adeti received a GH¢50,000 cash prize, reinforcing the importance of courageous journalism in the country.
His past investigations have included explosive reports on political interference in mining concessions, judicial corruption, and public sector malfeasance—often carried out at great personal risk.
His recognition comes at a time when investigative journalism in Ghana is under threat, not just from shrinking newsroom budgets, but from growing hostility and violence against journalists.
During the awards night, GJA President Albert Kwabena Dwumfour used the occasion to draw attention to the worsening state of press freedom in Ghana.
He revealed a troubling statistic: 11 journalists were assaulted in February 2025 alone.
Albert Dwumfour issued a stern call to the Ghana Police Service to take swift and decisive action against perpetrators of violence against media practitioners.
“We have been calling on the police to take attacks on journalists seriously, especially bringing perpetrators to justice. It is the only way to end impunity,” Dwumfour stated, his voice echoing the mounting frustration within the media fraternity.
He also renewed calls for justice in the long-stalled investigation into the murder of investigative journalist Ahmed Suale, who was gunned down in 2019 after his involvement in the undercover documentary Number 12, which exposed corruption in African football.
“We haven’t been sleeping on the attacks against our members,” Dwumfour declared. “The time to act is now.”
Also addressing the gathering was Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
In a forward-looking address, he cautioned against the unregulated use of artificial intelligence in journalism, warning that while AI can enhance efficiency, it also threatens the credibility, integrity, and human touch of traditional reporting.
“In this era where AI is reshaping the media landscape, we must balance innovation with responsibility,” Afenyo-Markin said.
“Ghana must urgently develop national and regional frameworks that ensure AI is used to complement, not compromise, press freedom.”
This year’s awards night, held under the theme “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis”, drew attention not only to environmental reporting but to the broader crisis facing journalism in Ghana.
From increasing physical assaults to legislative threats and economic pressures, the industry is facing one of its most challenging periods since the return to democratic rule in 1992.
The recognition of Adeti serves as both a celebration and a call to action—a reminder that journalism, even in the face of adversity, remains a vital pillar of democracy and a voice for the voiceless.
