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INSIDE AFRICA
CNN's MultiChoice African Journalist Awards
Aired July 26, 2008 - 12:30:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
NKEPILE MABUSE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, I'm Nkepile Mabuse. Welcome to the special edition of INSIDE AFRICA from Accra, Ghana, the site of this year's CNN's MultiChoice African Journalist awards.
Now, journalism can be a very difficult and sometimes dangerous vocation on this continent. The awards were created 13 years ago to recognize the courage, dedication and sacrifice that's required, and encourage excellence in journalism around Africa.
Now, this year's winners were chosen from a record number of entries, more than 1,900 in 44 countries.
But first, let's look at the host country this year. Ghana has had a long history of political instability caused by multiple coups post independence. Today, it's a vibrant democracy, and it's considered as one of the more economically sound economies in the whole of Africa. But the country is not without its problems.
Now, Awards have returned to their roots. Ghana has set the first AJA ceremony in 1995. In the years since, this country had built a strong record of press freedom, and is generally considered a model of West African democracy and stability, but this wasn't always the case.
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MABUSE: Signs of a growing economy that many ordinary Ghanaians say they have not seen the benefits. Critics say debts and corruption have over the years deprived the poor of a better life. Despite reforms and a reported decline in poverty, many continue to live in squalor, with no excess to clean running water or proper sanitation, a deadly cocktail. According to the country's health ministry, inadequate sanitation kills eight people per hour in Ghana. Yet, Ghana is the second biggest cocoa producer in the world, and exports gold and timber as well.
Now that country has discovered oil, although drilling at this oil rig behind me is expected to begin around 2010, the discovery of this commodity considered the lifeblood of the world has created high expectations of further economic growth and a better life for ordinary Ghanaians.
But in countries such as Nigeria and Angola, oil has not improved the lives of the poor, and is seen by some as a curse rather than a blessing.
These fishermen on Ghana's cape coast are excited about the discovery, but remain skeptical. George Mensa (ph) says maybe in the future, when his country has better leaders, his children will benefit from the oil.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But now it will go to politician people, and they will enjoy while we are suffering too much.
MABUSE: But Ghana's president, John Kufuor, says the government will pump oil money back into the economy, for roads, bridges and schools, building on economic growth in the country. One analyst sees hope.
KEN OFORI-ATTA, ECONOMIC ANALYST: We have found oil at the time in which our governance institutions are much better than all these countries that you have mentioned. And I think with the vigilance on issues of corruption, we should be able to manage it much better. I suspect for us, it will be a blessing.
MABUSE: Last year, Ghana celebrated 50 years of independence from colonial rule. Its road to political stability was not a joyous one. In 1966, the country's first black leader, Kwame Nkrumah, was overturned in a military coup that was to be the first of many more.
Ghana now has a vibrant democracy, but Nkrumah's son says it's up to the politicians to ensure progress.
SEKOU NKRUMAH, KWAME NKRUMAH'S SON: Part of the problem is that a lot of our leaders seem again to become too arrogant and extravagant in the way of life and so on, and seem very much divorced from the ordinary people.
MABUSE: In December, Ghanaians go to the polls to vote at their third democratic election since independence. President Kufuor's NPP party has been credited for improving the economy and attracting foreign investment. But many say more needs to be done.
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MABUSE: Ghanaian president John Kufuor was a guest of honor at this year's awards.
Coming up, our Zain Verjee catches up with the symbol of West African democracy ,and still ahead, highlights from the awards' gala and an interview with the night's big winner.
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MABUSE: Welcome back to the special edition of INSIDE AFRICA, from Accra, Ghana, the site of this year's CNN's multi-choice African Journalist Awards. Now, formerly known as the Gold Coast, Ghana was the third country in sub-Saharan Africa where Europeans arrived to trade. First in gold, and then in slaves. It was here, at the Elmino castle (ph) where hundreds of thousands of captives were shipped off against their will to the Americas and Caribbean.
Now, Ghana was also the first in sub-Saharan Africa to gain independence from colonial rule 51 years ago. After a series of coups, it was in 2000, when the current president John Kufuor took office in the country's first peaceful democratic transfer of power since 1957. Our Zain Verjee caught up with the outgoing president.
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ZAIN VERJEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You're about to leave office. How would you like to be remembered?
JOHN KUFUOR, GHANAIAN PRESIDENT: The president who served his country so well, encouraged the people, restored confidence in them, self-confidence in them. So, they began to take initiatives on their own.
VERJEE: What are the -- what is the biggest challenge you leave your successor in Ghana?
KUFUOR: Well, still good governance. I think that it forms the base of all development, and governance involves people. If you get good leaders, everything else falls in place for advancement.
VERJEE: Do you think that there is a danger where across the continent, including Kenya, where leaders will see a situation where they're going to lose an election, and then force situation where they know that other African leaders will come in and push the government of national unity whereby they then stay in power.
KUFUOR: This will not be the pattern. Once you accept to live within democratic arrangement, whereby the people are free to choose who should lead them through the ballot box, then you accept the verdict of the people. That must be the trend.
VERJEE: Do you see two faces of Africa here, where on the one hand you have vibrant democracies, and on the other hand you have old despots that just refuse to give up power?
KUFUOR: You put it in a black-and-white way that I won't subscribe to. Rather I'll put it this way -- that Africa is in transition. And therefore, we're moving from the old times, when strongmen and dictators held sway, into -- to times when the people decide through the ballot box.
VERJEE: Robert Mugabe doesn't seem to want to give up power. He seems to think he is president for life, at whatever cost that comes at. I mean, isn't that -- doesn't that drag Zimbabwe down? And the reason ....
KUFUOR: Let me quote you again -- let's get it in the right frame. The African Union met in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt about two or three weeks ago, a resort, to appeal to Mr. Mugabe to go back to his country, to talk with the opposition, so the country would be brought back together to make a way forward, positive way forward. I believe it was a loaded resolution, it wasn't an endorsement of the situation as it is today, no. It wasn't. It was a criticism rather.
VERJEE: Was it a strong enough criticism?
KUFUOR: This resolution I've talked about was adopted with Mr. Mugabe sitting in the hall, sitting with your peers as presidents, due (ph) -- as president sitting in with your peers, presidents.
VERJEE: But there are no consequences.
KUFUOR: And they look in the face and tell you, go back and talk to the opposition. I believe that was a serious comment.
VERJEE: Does Ghana recognize Mugabe as president?
KUFUOR: I won't answer that question.
VERJEE: But you're the leader of the country, and you're the head of the ...
KUFUOR: Ghana relates with Zimbabwe. Ghana as a nation relates with Zimbabwe.
VERJEE: Not answering would suggest that you don't.
KUFUOR: No. You don't commit me either way.
VERJEE: So you'd rather -- you'd rather stay noncommittal on that?
KUFUOR: No, I'm not answering you, as I said. Not answering does not mean you're committed or not committed.
VERJEE: But what does it mean?
KUFUOR: It means I'm not answering. I don't see how it will help the situation there, and we want to help the situation there to get better.
VERJEE: Ghana has oil.
KUFUOR: Well, thank God. Yes, we have.
VERJEE: And how are you going to make sure that the wealth that comes from your oil isn't just benefit -- the elite aren't just a beneficiary of that, and it does trickle down to the people of this country?
KUFUOR: It's going to be a blessing, because the mechanisms to ensure some cabal, or small group of people (inaudible) for their exclusive and selfish needs have been put in place so the benefits would rebound to the people everywhere.
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MABUSE: More than 1,900 entries narrow down to 23 finalists. But who went home with an award? Up next, (inaudible) of the 2008 CNN's MultiChoice African Journalist Awards. And also, we speak to two of the night's winners.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Making business news in Africa this week, GlaxoSmithKline has announced its second major deal in less than a month with Africa's largest drug maker, Aspen Pharmacare. The new deal will also get Glaxo access to a range of Aspen's low-cost unpatented drugs. Glaxo recently sold four of its medicines to Aspen in a $340 million deal.
And Zimbabwe has issued a new 100 billion note. Officially the note is worth $5 U.S., but it's fetching just over one U.S. $1 on the black market. The country's official inflation rate now stands at 2.2 million percent, the worst in the world.
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MABUSE: You're watching a special edition of INSIDE AFRICA from Accra, Ghana, site of this year's CNN multichoice African Journalist Award. Now, this year's ceremony was a gala affair, held at Ghana's State Banquet Hall. Here's a look at some of the evening highlights.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Welcome to the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2008 Awards.
MABUSE: The glitz, glamour, tears of joy. But this isn't Hollywood, this is Africa, and journalists and high-profile guests took center stage.
The awards are in their 13th year, and have gained permanence and prestige. The competition received more than 1,900 entries from a record 44 countries throughout the continent.
AZUBUIKE ISHIEKWENE, AJA JUDGE: I see the awards as source of inspiration for journalists across the continent.
KIM NORGAARD,AJA JUDGE: They represent excellence in quality and recognition of that quality.
ANNA UMBIMA, AJA JUDGE: What I've realized is the real difference that they make for journalists in Africa, because it gives you something to aspire to.
JOEL KIBAZO,AJA JUDGE: We've seen people come through the awards whose careers have improved simply because they've got that pat on the back from their colleagues.
SOPHIE LY SOW, AJA JUDGE: Journalists need to celebrate themselves, be celebrated, be encouraged, be supported. This is a difficult profession on a difficult continent.
MABUSE: From a report on corruption in Namibia's diamond industry.
FE HAFFAJEE, AJA JUDGE: This man, John Hobla (ph), has been working for at least two years on this story that has all the making of a soap opera, and therefore an excellent idea and therefore an automatic winner.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I decided to make a film on the HIV/AIDS situation in Zimbabwe.
MABUSE: A compelling documentary on HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe to an unsafe bridge in Nigeria.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, the vibration gets in turn each time a heavy duty truck drives past, a heavy duty truck or a lorry.
ARLINDO LOPES, AJA JUDGE: As a matter of fact, two weeks after the story was broadcast, the Nigerian government awarded a concert company - a company to look into these maintenance problems. Therefore, it's a contribution to save lives.
MABUSE: Seyoum Tsehaye of Eritrea, who was jailed in 2001 for a critical article he wrote for "Satiq" (ph) newspaper was recognized for his contribution to the fight for press freedom on the continent. He's still in prison.
ISHIEKWENE: We want Tsehaye to know that he is not forgotten.
MABUSE: The finalists' work was varied and the judges' task tough.
Not everyone walks away with an award, and in the end only one was named African Journalist of the Year.
MABUSE: What set the winners apart from hundreds of entries? Up next, two of them tell us about the work behind the honor.
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ISHA SESAY, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, I'm Isha Sesay. We'll have more of our special edition of INSIDE AFRICA from Accra, Ghana in just a moment. But first, a quick look at developments in the crisis in Zimbabwe. The ruling ZANU-PF party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change reportedly began talks in South Africa on forming a power-sharing government. A spokesman for South African President Thabo Mbeki told the French press agency top negotiators for both parties met at a secret venue. The spokesman said he expects them to reach a deal in about two weeks.
Earlier in the week, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai signed a memorandum of understanding to set the agenda for negotiations. It was a first time in 10 years the two men had appeared together in public. In South Africa, we'll continue to closely follow developments in Zimbabwe's political crisis.
Now back to Nkepile Mabuse from the CNN MultiChoice African Journalists Awards.
MABUSE: Welcome back to the special edition of INSIDE AFRICA from Accra, Ghana, site of this year's CNN's MultiChoice African Journalist Award. Now 23 finalists were selected from more than 1,900 entries around the continent this year. So what made these journalists stand out among the rest? Here is an overview.
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MABUSE: Kenyan photojournalist Boniface Mwangi got the photographic award for his expose of police brutality in one of his country's slums. His series of exclusive pictures captured the horror of the police raid that left 14 people dead. A mother cries for help, her child knocked unconscious by police tear gas. The infant later dies. State security personnel unleashed their dogs on innocent people entertained by their victims' humiliation. Among the terrorized, these children, walking back home from school.
An emotional Boniface says winning the award took him back to the day of horror.
BONIFACE MWANGI, AWARD WINNER: I was very humbled for being acknowledged, and on the other hand, I felt so bad for the people who died that particular day.
MABUSE: But it was not only the continent's doom-and-gloom stories that received top honors. Barbara Angopa, television news reporter on a peace dance on Angola, scooped the arts and culture award. She found a community displaced by internal conflict using music and dance to promote peace and healing.
BARBARA ANGOPA, AWARD WINNER: The portrayal of Africa shouldn't be one- dimensional and depressing and sad, which sometimes it can be. Unfortunately, (inaudible) some people (inaudible) and I'm just so pleased they even have the category for us in culture, because there are so many wonderful and happy stories to be told about the continent there. I see them every day.
MABUSE: From one of the continent's most troubled countries, Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin'ono's compelling documentary stood out above the rest, earning him the title of Africa's best.
UMBIMA: This was a powerful, moving and compelling piece of work.
HOPEWELL CHIN'ONO, OVERALL WINNER: Kaletra is one of the drugs that is used for HIV treatment, is 12 million, and to put it into perspective, a doctor in Zimbabwe earns about 6 million Zimbabwean dollars. So it will each take him two months salary to be able to buy that drug, which is for one month.
UMBIMA: The story about hope and about life. It's not a story about disease and death.
MABUSE: CNN caught up with Hopewell the morning after the big night.
(on camera): How does it feel to be declared Africa's best journalist?
CHIN'ONO: It feels real good, but it comes with a responsibility as well. There is (inaudible), and that has been put on my shoulders, and I have to live up to it.
MABUSE: How did you come about the story?
CHIN'ONO: I realized that people in Zimbabwe were dying because of failure to access medication; 3,000 people die every week in Zimbabwe from HIV and AIDS.
MABUSE: The government-controlled Zimbabwean Broadcasting Corporation initially refused to broadcast Hopewell's documentary.
CHIN'ONO: Some people were saying no, we cannot show it, because it's antigovernment. But it took the courage of one woman, Mrs. Gono (ph), who unfortunately has now been fired from the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, for other reasons, they say, to -- to push for the film to be shown on television.
MABUSE: A clampdown on independent media has made it extremely difficult for journalists to operate in Zimbabwe, but Hopewell's dedication, perseverance and determination is part of what earned him the biggest prize in African journalism.
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MABUSE: And that does it for this week's special edition of INSIDE AFRICA from Accra, Ghana. I'm Nkepile Mabuse. Isha Sesay will be back with a brand new episode next week. Thanks for watching. Good bye.
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