OFAB Engages Ghanaian Journalists on Revamped Media Awards and Biotech Reporting
The Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) has engaged Ghanaian journalists in Accra to unveil a refreshed strategy for its media awards and to strengthen reporting on agricultural biotechnology across Africa.
Speaking to The New Finder, Mr. Enoch Illori, Project Officer for OFAB Ghana, explained that the engagement forms part of OFAB Africa’s annual monitoring and sensitization activities across its operational countries. This year’s visit, he noted, was aimed at briefing past and interested journalists on recent changes to the OFAB Media Awards and introducing a new Africa-wide biotechnology communication campaign.
“The meeting was to share insights on the refreshed OFAB media award scheme, discuss new storytelling techniques in science reporting, and also get journalists with an interest in biotechnology on board a continent-wide campaign,” Mr. Illori stated.
Mr. Verenardo Meeme, OFAB Programme Officer at the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), highlighted key changes to the OFAB Media Awards. According to him, a recent review of the awards, first launched in 2006, identified areas for improvement after nearly two decades of operation.
“We commissioned a study to evaluate the awards and from that, we found it necessary to expand and restructure the programme. This includes the introduction of a new online reporting category and opening participation to journalists from beyond the original 10 OFAB countries,” he said.
Previously, only journalists from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Rwanda, and Malawi were eligible. The new format—rebranded as OMAS (OFAB Media Awards Scheme)—aims to be more inclusive, engaging voices from across the continent and strengthening capacity for accurate and evidence-based reporting on agricultural biotechnology.
Mr. Meeme emphasized the importance of science-based communication, citing the growing concern over misinformation in biotechnology. He noted that through initiatives like OMAS, OFAB seeks to build a community of well-trained journalists who can responsibly report on science and technology issues, particularly in agriculture.
“By connecting journalists with scientists, training opportunities, and resources, we aim to eliminate the gaps in understanding and ensure the public gets reliable and factual information on agricultural biotechnology,” he added.
The meeting concluded with a call for greater collaboration between the media and research institutions to promote biotechnology innovations as a pathway to food security and agricultural resilience in Africa. OFAB continues to position itself as a bridge between science and society, with journalists playing a critical role in shaping informed public discourse on modern agricultural technologies.
