Twelve of West Africa’s most exceptional journalists were celebrated on Friday at the first-ever ECOWAS Media Excellence Awards, held at the Coco Ocean Resort in Banjul, The Gambia. The prestigious event, hosted by the ECOWAS Commission as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations, recognised excellence in Print, Radio, Television, and Online journalism.
Gambian journalist Sankulleh Janko received the Best Radio Journalist Award, earning applause from a proud home audience. Winners were selected from over 200 entries submitted between February 20 and March 20 by journalists from all 15 ECOWAS member states.
A seven-member independent jury—composed of media professionals from diverse linguistic and regional backgrounds—reviewed the submissions in April. Finalists came from Nigeria, Senegal, Benin, Togo, Liberia, and The Gambia.
Delivering the keynote address, H.E. Miatta Lily French, ECOWAS Resident Representative to The Gambia, underscored the importance of a free and ethical press.
“A free, responsible, and ethical press is not a luxury but a cornerstone of peace, stability, and inclusive development in our region,” she said.
French noted that the high calibre of entries demonstrated the bravery and commitment of journalists who often work under difficult conditions. “To the 12 outstanding awardees, I say congratulations. Your stories shine a light where darkness often prevails.”
Representing the ECOWAS Commission President, Hon. Abdou Kolley, Director of Cabinet, affirmed the awards as a key highlight of the ECOWAS@50 celebrations.
“Since the signing of the ECOWAS Treaty in 1975, the role of journalists has been central.
They do not just report events, they shape democratic accountability and build bridges among diverse communities.”
He commended the transparency of the selection process, chaired by communications expert Mr. Abdoulie Gassama, and announced that the awards would now be an annual fixture to uphold press freedom across the region.
Speaking on behalf of The Gambia’s Information Minister Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, Codou Jabang Senghore reflected on the nation’s media progress.
“Hosting the awards in Banjul would have been unimaginable just a few years ago,” she said, citing the lifting of the FM radio license moratorium as a major step forward.
She also reminded guests of The Gambia’s early legacy of press freedom, dating back to the 1960s.
Senghore praised the thematic range of the awards, which highlighted not only political reporting but also stories centred on peace, development, integration, and gender equality.
Gambia Press Union President Isatou Keita hailed the event as a vital recognition of journalists’ contributions.
“This is more than just an award ceremony; it is a powerful recognition of the role journalists play in safeguarding democracy, human rights, and regional unity.”
Keita spoke candidly about the challenges journalists continue to face across West Africa—ranging from threats and censorship to financial instability—but also lauded their resilience. “We urge that this award becomes an annual tradition… ECOWAS must continue to listen to, protect, and partner with the media in the region.”
Veteran journalist and co-publisher of The Point, Pap Saine, also addressed the gathering. He applauded ECOWAS for selecting Banjul as the launch venue and called on regional governments to invest in media training and capacity building.
“These awards are a call to action,” he said.
The evening closed with acknowledgements to key partners, including GIZ and the ECOWAS Directorate of Communications, led by Mr. Joel Ahofodji, for orchestrating the landmark celebration.
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