Renowned investigative journalist and filmmaker Rebekah Awuah has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Ghanaian appointed to the jury of the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize, marking a significant moment for both Ghanaian and African journalism.
Her appointment to the six-member international panel not only honours her distinguished career in journalism but also places African perspectives at the centre of global press freedom discourse. The panel, chaired by Japanese professor and investigative journalist Yasuomi Sawa, is responsible for selecting the annual recipient of the UNESCO prize, which celebrates extraordinary contributions to defending press freedom worldwide.
Rebekah’s inclusion comes at a critical time when journalists across the globe face heightened risks for speaking truth to power. “This is not a personal crown,” she said. “It’s a megaphone for every reporter working in the shadows to keep democracy alive.”
Currently a senior reporter at The Fourth Estate and Fact-Check Ghana, under the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Rebekah has built a reputation for fearless accountability journalism. Her extensive portfolio includes reporting on gender, environment, human rights, and governance, with her work receiving local and international acclaim — including being a finalist at the 2013 CNN African Journalist Awards and winning the 2023 Energy and SDG Media Personality Award.
The UNESCO/Guillermo Cano Prize, named after Colombian journalist Guillermo Cano Isaza, who was assassinated for exposing drug cartels, is awarded each year on World Press Freedom Day. It honours individuals and organisations that have risked their lives to defend journalistic integrity.
Other jurors alongside Rebekah include CNN’s Nima Elbagir (Sudan), Åsne Seierstad (Norway), Aneta Grosu (Moldova), and Jaime Abello Banfi (Colombia).
Speaking on the broader significance of her appointment, Rebekah noted, “Ghana is often hailed as a beacon of press freedom and stability in West Africa. Serving on this jury acknowledges that legacy and allows me to help shape global press freedom advocacy through an African lens.”
Her renewable three-year term represents not only a personal achievement but also a win for the entire African media community, affirming that investigative journalism, truth-telling, and accountability remain critical pillars in the fight for democratic freedoms worldwide.
