The Ghanaian CNN award winner, Ms Loretta Vanderpuye on Tuesday presented her award to President John Agyekum Kufuor at the Castle, Osu. Ms Vanderpuye, a journalist of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), won the Environment Category of this year's CNN African Journalists Award Competition, with her story "Dangers of Exhaust Emission."
The prize consisted of a plaque, a laptop, modem and printer and cash. President Kufuor said the country required journalists who were knowledgeable and could inform the people on issues about themselves and the world. Such opinion leaders should ensure they tell the truth but not pollute the minds of the people with misinformation", he said.
President Kufuor commended her and said her award was an honour to Ghana and a great achievement on a topic that concentrated on cleaning the atmosphere to purify the air for people, showed her concern for mankind. He said professionals in other fields should also aspire to excel to bring more honour to the country.
Ms Vanderpuye said her award indicated that journalism was critical to national development and urged her colleagues to take their work seriously to contribute their quota towards the country's development. She called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other stakeholders on the environment to assist eradicate dangers posed by exhaust emission in the country.
The top prize of the CNN Journalist of the year, went to Susan Puren from "Carte Blanche' of MNET/DSTV, South Africa. Ms Puren was chosen from among entrants from 26 countries across Africa for her story, 'China, war Child." The overall CNN Journalist of the year received a trip to CNN Centre, Atlanta, with complimentary flights, courtesy of South African Airlines and a cashprize.
The CNN holds the annual competition, which is now in its seventh year in partnership with South African Broadcasting Corporation. There were also awards for Sports, Business and Commerce, Art and Culture and Health.
