JoyNews’ Emmanuel Dzivenu named finalist for West Africa journalism excellence award

JoyNews journalist and television producer Emmanuel Dzivenu has been named a finalist in the 2026 Excellence in Journalism Awards organised by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID). His documentary, “Leukaemia: Last Chance Abroad – Agony of Ghanaians Diagnosed with Blood Cancer,” is among 17 entries shortlisted from 424 submissions by 277 journalists across nine West African countries.

The documentary exposes the struggles of Ghanaians diagnosed with leukaemia who are forced to raise huge sums of money to seek life-saving bone marrow transplants abroad, often losing precious treatment time in the process. It highlights the limited access to specialised transplant services for leukaemia in Ghana and across West Africa, which leaves patients seeking treatment overseas, including in South Africa.

Beyond the struggles of affected families, the investigation argues for establishing a Centre for Haematology and Clinical Genetics in Ghana that could serve patients across the subregion and reduce dependence on treatment abroad. Rigorous and competitive selection process Mr Dzivenu’s recognition follows a highly competitive selection process involving hundreds of submissions from journalists across West Africa.

According to CJID, the 2026 awards attracted 424 entries from 277 journalists, representing a 54.2 per cent increase over the 275 entries received in 2025. The submissions came from nine countries: Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Guinea and Benin. The entries underwent an initial screening, after which the five highest-ranked submissions in each of the eight award categories advanced to the next stage.

An independent panel of six accomplished journalists from across the region then subjected the selected entries to further scrutiny. Hannah Ajakaiye, founding editor of FactsMatter NG, chaired the jury, which also included Manasseh Azure Awuni, a multiple award-winning Ghanaian investigative journalist and editor. Other members were Maxime Domegni, an award-winning journalist and Francophone Africa Editor for the Global Investigative Journalism Network; Ajibola Amzat, Africa Editor at the Centre for Collaborative Investigative Journalism; Kent Mensah, Chief Ghana Correspondent for The Africa Report; and Amaka Okoye, Bureau Chief for Deutsche Welle’s Studio Lagos in Nigeria.

Each judge independently assessed the entries for accuracy, fairness, originality, innovation, depth of research, quality of writing, public significance, and adherence to ethical standards. The judges subsequently deliberated to select entries that demonstrated a strong combination of compelling storytelling and rigorous journalism. The process produced 17 finalist entries across eight categories, including Health Reporting, Community Reporting, Human Rights Reporting, Social Accountability, Climate Change Reporting, Solutions Journalism, Fact-Checking, and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.

The shortlisted works cover investigations into suspected killings in Ghanaian police custody, illegal rosewood trafficking, cross-border gold exploitation, environmental pollution, human rights abuses and healthcare challenges across the region. Jury chair Hannah Ajakaiye praised the quality of submissions, particularly reporting on social accountability, environmental issues and human rights.

“This year’s entries showed particular strength in reporting on social accountability, the environment and human rights,” she said. CJID Chief Executive Officer Dapo Olorunyomi congratulated the finalists and commended journalists across West Africa for pursuing stories of public interest despite difficult working conditions and limited resources. “The stories recognised this year reflect the courage, persistence and public service that sustain journalism in West Africa,” he said.

Winners to be announced in Abuja The finalists will be honoured at an awards ceremony on Wednesday, November 25, 2026, at the Abuja Continental Hotel in Nigeria, as part of the Media and Development Conference. The ceremony will announce winners and runners-up in each of the eight categories. The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Abuja and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands support the 2026 awards.

The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development is a leading West African media innovation organisation dedicated to strengthening investigative journalism, promoting media freedom, advancing digital rights and fostering democratic accountability across the continent.