The Fourth Estate Journalists Sweep Top Honours at 2025 CJID Excellence in Journalism Awards

Four journalists from The Fourth Estate have won top honours at the 2025 CJID Excellence in Journalism Awards, emerging winners in every category for which the newsroom was shortlisted.

The awards were announced on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, at the Abuja Continental Hotel as part of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development’s annual Media and Development Conference (CJID).

Investigative reporter Philip Teye Agbove and freelance journalist Justice Baidoo won the Best Community Reporting Award for their human-rights-centred investigation, “Death and Brutality: The Battle for West Africa’s Largest Salt Deposit.”

Their multi-part report exposed the far-reaching implications of leasing the Songor Lagoon, West Africa’s largest salt deposit, located in Ada. The reports revealed how the concession had become an epicentre of violent confrontations, state-backed land grabs, and human rights abuses, all concealed under the banner of economic development.

The exposé triggered national scrutiny. Affected communities regained their economic livelihoods, while Parliament, the Presidency, and Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) were petitioned to probe the abuses and the opaque circumstances under which the resource was leased to a private investor.

The judges praised the story for its depth, courage, and measurable impact on public discourse.

According to them, the journalists’ “storytelling captures the heartbeat of communities, their struggles, their resilience, and their quiet triumphs.” They added that the award recognises “dedication to journalism that listens first, engages deeply, and strengthens the bond between communities and the institutions that serve them.”

Picking up the award on behalf of the team, Justice Baidoo expressed gratitude to everyone who contributed to the investigation. He urged President John Dramani Mahama to expedite efforts to bring final closure to the decades-long Songor struggle.

“At this point, I would like to use this platform to remind the new President of Ghana, President Mahama, of the promise he made to the people of Ada, to look into the issues raised in this story, to revisit the Ada Songor matter, and to help the indigenous people reclaim their heritage,” he said. “We are urging him to protect their livelihoods, make salt mining fairer, and ensure that the people of Ada are not deprived their livelihoods.”

Manager of the Independent Journalism Project at the MFWA, Kwaku Krobea Asante, won the Best Fact-Check Award for his investigation titled “Influence and Deception: How Pro-NPP Firm Flaunting UK Connection Produced Polls Favouring Bawumia.”

The story exposed how a syndicate comprising government appointees, an NPP party executive and affiliates of the Vice president’s office published a questionable poll ahead of Ghana’s 2024 general election. Mr Asante’s investigation revealed how the polls were produced to influence the media and deceive the voting public days before the December 7 elections.

The organisers said his work “stands as a reminder of why truth matters.”

According to them, “through careful verification, clarity, and a commitment to public interest,” Kwaku “continues to challenge falsehoods and uphold the values that keep our information ecosystem credible.”

They added that, “this award celebrates his dedication to journalism that protects citizens, strengthens accountability, and ensures that facts remain at the centre of public discourse.”

Speaking after he picked up the award, Mr. Asante highlighted the urgent need to intensify the fight against information disorder in the West Africa sub-region, noting that the spread of misinformation continues to undermine journalism and truth-telling.

He also emphasized the recent rise in coups in West Africa and stressed the crucial role that critical, independent journalism must play in safeguarding democracy and stability.

Former Fourth Estate investigative reporter Evans Aziamor-Mensah also won in the social accountability category for his exposé, “Free Wi-Fi: Government Pays Service Provider GHS 56m for No Internet in Schools.”

The investigation revealed how millions of cedis were paid to a contractor despite hundreds of public schools not receiving internet service. The revelations generated public outrage and calls for government accountability, leading to a petition to the Office of the Special Prosecutor.

According to the CJID, Mr. Aziamor-Mensah’s work “represents the heart of accountability journalism, spotlighting broken systems, amplifying the concerns of citizens, and uncovering pathways for stronger, more transparent governance.”

They added that, “this award celebrates a body of work that not only informs but empowers people to demand better and inspires leaders to act with integrity.”

This year’s competition received 275 entries from across West Africa. Thirteen finalists were selected following a rigorous review by an independent panel of veteran media professionals.