The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has commended the Turkish Embassy in Ghana and Turkish Airlines for facilitating a one-week familiarisation visit to the Republic of Türkiye for two winners of the 29th GJA Media Awards.

The beneficiaries are the reigning Female Journalist of the Year, Doreen Ampofo of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), and the Student Journalist of the Year, Clinton Yeboah of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), who also works with the Multimedia Group's stations in Kumasi.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Association clarified that the Journalist of the Year, Godwin Asediba, was unable to participate in the trip because he is currently resident outside Ghana.

According to the GJA, the sponsorship arrangement with the Turkish Embassy in Ghana and Turkish Airlines covered only travel on the Accra–Istanbul–Accra route. As a result, Mr Asediba was unable to travel to Ghana to complete the required visa formalities and begin the journey from Accra as stipulated under the package.

The Association thanked Mr Asediba for his understanding and expressed appreciation to the Turkish Embassy and Turkish Airlines for honouring the sponsorship arrangement, which enabled the implementation of the all-expense-paid travel package awarded during the 29th GJA Media Awards.

The GJA also expressed gratitude to the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Ghana, Hüseyin Güngör, for what it described as his personal commitment and support in ensuring the successful execution of the initiative.

It said the Ambassador's gesture demonstrates the value of collaboration between diplomatic missions and professional institutions and expressed the hope that other embassies and foreign missions accredited to Ghana would emulate such support for the professional development of Ghanaian journalists.

The Association noted that the 29th GJA Media Awards marked a historic milestone as the awards ceremony was, for the first time, hosted at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi under the hospitality of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene.

The event was attended by President John Dramani Mahama as Special Guest of Honour.

The GJA further highlighted that Doreen Ampofo won two additional award categories on the night, bringing her total number of awards to three.

According to the Association, the familiarisation programme in Türkiye includes visits to leading media organisations, the country's national media regulator, tourism sites, trading centres and other places of strategic interest.

The delegation is also expected to pay a courtesy call on Ghana's Ambassador to the Republic of Türkiye, Sheikh Abdul Nasiru-Deen, who will host them to dinner in Istanbul.

The GJA said the visit forms part of its growing partnership with the Turkish Embassy in Ghana to promote professional exchange, strengthen media cooperation and deepen relations between Ghana and Türkiye.

It added that under the leadership of its President, Albert Dwumfour, the Association remains committed to pursuing partnerships that provide Ghanaian journalists with opportunities for professional development, international exposure and the exchange of best practices.

The statement was signed by the GJA's General Secretary, Dominic Hlordzi.