In January, the Merck Foundation awarded three MMFC trainees for their work to highlight the the lax attitude towards COVID safety protocols in different regions of Ghana. In the online category of their Mask Up With Care Media Recognition for West African Countries awards, Prosper Koursoh and Prince Kwame Tamakloe earned the 1st runner-up and second position respectively for their stories on the dwindling use of face masks and COVID safety protocols in Ghana’s northern region. Beatrice Spio-Garbrah was awarded third position in the multimedia category for her story on the improper dispoal of face masks. 

Earlier in November, Prosper Koursoh also won the 1st runner up position in the the Media for Disability Awards organized by YALI TV in partnership with the US Embassy in Ghana. He won for his story, “Save from Customary Execution: The story of a boy born physically challenged”. His fellow trainee Sarah Apenkroh Parku received a citation for her commitment to advancing the voices of persons living with disabilities in Ghana. 

JHR’s Mobilizing Media to Fight COVID-19 program trains journalists to counter COVID misinformation and report on the pandemic’s impact on human rights, with support from Global Affairs Canada.