The Catholic Standard Newspaper and its former Managing Editor, Sir Benedict Batabe Assorow, were among the distinguished recipients honoured at the second edition of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) Honours Night, held on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at the Alisa Hotel, North Ridge, Accra.
Ms. Doreen Darko, Deputy Managing Editor of The Catholic Standard, received the institutional award on behalf of the newspaper. In a brief remark, the Managing Editor of The Catholic Standard noted that the Paper had been selected following a rigorous process by the GJA National Executive, which identified it as one of the distinguished institutions whose contributions to national development, press freedom, media advancement, democratic governance and public service merited special recognition.
Sir Benedict Assorow, a veteran journalist who served as Managing Editor of The Catholic Standard for many years, was honoured under the Dedication and Valour Award category. Sir Assorow was recognised as a veteran journalist and former Editor of The Catholic Standard. The award was received on his behalf by one of his daughters and son-in law, as Sir Benedict is currently out of the country, serving as Ghana’s Ambassador to the Holy See (Vatican).
Sir Benedict’s distinguished career has spanned service as Executive Secretary of the Department of Social Communications of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC), Consultant to the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, and President of SIGNIS-Africa, the continental branch of the World Catholic Association for Communication. He also represented the GJA on the Boards of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation and the Graphic Communications Group Ltd., and serves as a member of the National Media Commission (NMC) representing Christian Religious Groups.
The Catholic Standard was one of five institutions recognised on the night. The other institutional honourees were the Graphic Communications Group Limited, the Bank of Ghana, the Ghana News Agency, and Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City Accra.
Also honoured under the Dedication and Valour Award category alongside Sir Benedict were Ambassador Gina Blay, former Ambassador of Ghana to Germany and veteran journalist; Kwabena Yeboah, renowned sports journalist and broadcaster; Kofi Badu, former Managing Director of Graphic Communications Group Limited and Acting Chief of Staff at the Manhyia Palace; Dr. Gamel Nasser Adam, media practitioner and academic; and Prof. Kofi Agyekum, renowned linguist, scholar and media contributor.
The GJA also conferred posthumous awards on the late Abubakari Sidick Ahmed of Radio Universe and the late Nana Kwame Korang, Chief of Awua Domasie, in recognition of their invaluable contributions to journalism, dedication and valour.
The Press Freedom category honoured H.E. Alhaji Abdul-Rahman Haruna Atta, distinguished Ghanaian diplomat and media advocate; Samson Lardy Anyenini, lawyer, journalist and host of Newsfile; and the late Justice Kwame Afreh, former Justice of the Supreme Court, who was honoured posthumously for his outstanding contributions to press freedom.
Other personalities recognised for their contributions to media development included Prof. Amin Alhassan, Prof. Omane Antwi, Mr. Kofi Totobi Quakyi, Mrs. Beatrice Agyeman, Mr. Ken Ansah and Mr. Fada Dickson Narh. A Special Recognition Award was also presented to the Turkish Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Hüseyin Güngör, for his outstanding support, partnership and commitment to strengthening relations with the media fraternity and the GJA.
The ceremony was held under the global theme: Shaping a Future at Peace: Promoting Press Freedom for Human Rights, Development and Security, and was chaired by Dr. Charity Binka, President of the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) – Ghana Chapter. President John Dramani Mahama was represented at the event by Sam Nartey George, Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, as Special Guest of Honour.
