Ghanaian television and radio presenter, Paa Kwesi Asare, has won the 2023 BBC News Komla Dumor Award.
He was named the winner on Monday, August 21, years after being runner-up in the inaugural edition of the award.
Paa Kwesi is currently a TV and radio presenter with Ghanaian television station, TV3, where he has worked since 2016.
The Komla Dumor Award is a journalism award launched by the BBC in 2015 in honour of the legacy of Ghanaian journalist Komla Dumor who worked for BBC World News and was the main presenter of its programme Focus on Africa.
The award is presented each year “to an outstanding individual living and working in Africa, who combines strong journalism skills, on-air flair, and an exceptional talent in telling African stories with the ambition and potential to become a star of the future.” The winner is given a three-month training and development contract in BBC News.
Previous winners include Dingindaba Jonah Buyoya (Zambia), Victoria Rubadiri (Kenya), Solomon Serwanjja (Uganda), Waihiga Mwaura (Kenya), Amina Yuguda (Nigeria), Didi Akinyelure (Nigeria) and Nancy Kacungira (Uganda).
Expressing excitement about his big win, Asare said: “I am absolutely thrilled to have won the Komla Dumor Award. This is arguably the most prestigious award for any African journalist, and I am honoured to be in the company of such incredible previous winners. Komla Dumor was a true pioneer in African journalism, and it’s a great privilege to be following in his footsteps. This award gives me the motivation to continue striving for excellence in my career, and I am excited to use this platform to amplify African voices and tell the stories that matter to our continent.”
As part of the award, Paa Kwesi will spend three months working with BBC News teams in London across television, radio, and online. He will be given the opportunity to further develop his journalism skills through training, workshops, and mentoring with leading BBC journalists.
In her remark, the Senior Controller of BBC News International Services and Director of the BBC World Service, Liliane Landor said: “We are delighted to welcome Paa Kwesi Asare to BBC News. Paa Kwesi is a rising star in African journalism. A passionate advocate for African stories, we are excited to have him join the BBC to continue Komla Dumor’s legacy of telling the stories that matter to Africa.”
The award was created in 2015 to honour the memory of Komla Dumor, a presenter for BBC World News who was known for his commitment to reporting African stories comprehensively and authentically.
Paa Kwesi Asare is the first Ghanaian to win the Komla Dumor Award.
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