The Excellence In Broadcasting (EIB) Network made an impressive showing at the 2026 GJA Media Excellence Awards in the Ashanti Region as Ivan Heathcote – Fumador swept three awards.
Until his exit, Heathcote – Fumador was editor for Ultimate 106.9 FM and reported on diverse beats for the Network’s array of radio, television and online platforms, including Starr 103.5 FM, GhOne TV and Starrfm.com.gh.
He picked up the Special award for inclusion reporting with a story, “Visually impaired in Ghana appeal for accessible apps for digital financial transactions.”
His story, “Care homes; mental health rehab centers decry exclusion from Ghana Card registration” earned him a runners’ up Best in health journalism award.
Ivan Heathcote – Fumador further picked a Best in feature production award with his in-depth look at Ghana’s Digital Public Infrastructure which dwelt on the value of the Ghana Post GPS Addressing system.”
AI and Media Ethics
The theme for this year’s awards, “Celebrating Excellence, Championing Credibility: Journalism in the Age of AI,” struck a critical chord in the dynamic age the media landscape finds itself.
Highlighting the revolution, opportunities and challenges the expanding frontiers of artificial intelligence present to modern-day journalists, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association, Kofi Adu Domfeh, urged the media to be extra cautious in taking advantage of such new technologies whose misuse could undermine the credibility and ethics of the profession.
He explained: “While AI offers interesting opportunities for research, production and storytelling, it has made it easier to create fake news, manipulate audios, fabricate videos and spread misinformation at very alarming speeds.”
“Journalists have to uphold credibility in distinguishing professional journalism from the endless stream of content competing for public attention,” he cautioned.
The President of the Ghana Journalists Association, Albert Dwumfour, expressed worry at the persistent reluctance of media houses to properly remunerate journalists and champion their welfare.
He indicated that his office had begun informal deliberations to draft a landmark private member’s bill whose hopeful passage in Parliament would enforce standards and thresholds for the welfare of journalists in the country.
He contended that such a move had become necessary to protect the dignity of the Fourth Estate, arguing that a poorly remunerated journalist was a threat to professionalism and the security of the country.
Best Journalist
Luv FM’s Emmanuel Bright Quaicoe of the Multimedia Group emerged as the best journalist in the Region, making the best mark in all entries assessed by the Dr Fortune Tella jury.
He took home a plaque of honour, a citation, an undisclosed amount of money and a laptop from MTN Ghana.
Kofi Badu Awards
In a colourful gesture of honour, Chief of Staff at the Manhyia Palace, Kofi Badu, was presented with the Kofi Badu Veteran Award in recognition of his immense contributions to the profession and his dedicated service to Asanteman.
A fellow veteran and former Chairman of the National Media Commission, Yaw Boadu Ayeboafo, gave an inspiring narration of how Mr. Kofi Badu served in various capacities as a sports journalist, editor, twice as managing director and as a government official.
He charged young journalists to uphold the virtue and honour expected of journalists, encouraging them to appreciate the dignity of the profession beyond material gains.
By Ivan Heathcote – Fumador
