In appreciation of his compelling television documentary ‘Left to Rot’ that raised alarm and promoted actions on the Justice for All programme, the MFWA has named Seth Kwame Boateng the Human Right reporter and West African Journalist of the year.
At the first-ever West Africa, Media Excellence Conference & Awards 2017(WAMECA) held at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) awarded Journalist whose stories have helped in the development of the sub-region.
Even though the Justice For All Programme began in September 2007, News documentary championed by Seth Kwame Boateng in 2015 brought into sharp focus the importance of the programme.
The documentary titled Left to Rot, showed the crude, cruel, and inhumane conditions under which prisoners, particularly those on remand endure in prison.
The documentary captured how some innocent victims were left to rot in prison for as many years whilst others with misdemeanours were also left to spend many years than they would have spent if tried and convicted.
With aid of the documentary over 400 remand prisoners have been freed under the Justice for All Programme.
In a brief speech after receiving the award, Seth Kwame Boateng showed appreciation to the Multimedia Group for the support and the opportunities given him to rise from a receptionist to an award winning journalist.
Seth Kwame Boateng walked away with a certificate, a plague and a 2000 dollar as prize.
Other journalists who were awarded include; Femi Asu –Nigeria (Oil and Gas reporting), Fouseeuni Saibou – Togo (Health reporting), Sheila Williams- Ghana (Ecowas and Regional Integration reporting), Alagbe Jesusegun – Nigeria (Anti-corruption reporting) and Manasseh Azuri Awuni – Ghana ( Investigative reporting).
The West Africa Media Excellence Conference & Awards 2017(WAMECA) aims at improving media professionalism and to strengthen the media as allies for development in all sectors.