A final-year student of the Department of Communication Studies of the University of Cape Coast, Miss. Collincia Ayifa, has won the Best Student Journalist at the 27th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards.
This year’s GJA awards ceremony was on the theme: “Leveraging Media Freedom to Sustain the Democratic and Security Architecture: The Litmus Test of Election 2024”.
Collincia Ayifa’s story highlighted E. Coli contamination of the popular millet and milk smoothie, locally called “Brukina”.
A citation accompanying her award read in part: “Your ability to bring scientific discoveries about the “E. Coli” contamination of the popular millet and milk smoothie, “Brukina”, to the forefront of a public narrative and make the findings accessible to readers in plain language, is very admirable. Your interactive feature titled: “Brukina: A nutritious food contaminated with E. coli”, provided context to a critical health issue.”
It added: “Your analysis of the available data from researchers of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, the University of Ghana on “Burkina”, brought your story down from the scientific space to the level of the ordinary reader. The research findings detected unacceptable levels of the bacteria, Escherichia coli, in almost all the samples examined. The millet used to prepare the drink also contained unacceptable levels of aflatoxins that can cause cancer.
The citation, signed by Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, GJA President, continued: “Your own investigation also revealed that all the products on the market lacked FDA approval. You were on the ground to witness how the smoothie is produced. That, together with the available scientific data, provided essential public health information that can save lives. For this exceptional journalistic work done, even as a student, the Ghana Journalists Association proudly honours you with the Best Student Journalist of the Year Award. CONGRATULATIONS!”
The event had the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Ms. Jean Mensa as the guest speaker.
Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC