By Sainabou Sambou
The Gambia Press Union (GPU) on Saturday evening celebrated the 10th edition of its National Journalism Awards, marking a decade of recognising outstanding reporting while sounding the alarm on lingering threats to press freedom and the slow pace of media reforms.
Held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre in Bijilo, the glittering ceremony honoured journalists who have excelled in holding power to account, despite operating in what GPU President Isatou Keita described as “an increasingly unfavourable legal environment.”
Speaking to a packed audience of journalists, diplomats, and government officials, Ms Keita highlighted the significance of the milestone. “Ten years ago, the awards were restructured to systematically honour excellence and motivate journalists to tell stories that matter – stories that drive transparency, accountability and justice,” she said. She praised the steadily improving quality of entries as evidence of a maturing profession.
Yet the celebrations were tempered by serious concerns. Ms Keita singled out the Criminal Offences Act 2025, which reintroduces the offence of “False Publication and Broadcasting” with heavy fines and potential imprisonment, and provisions in the 2023 Cybercrime Bill that she warned could chill investigative journalism.
While acknowledging progress – notably the 2021 Access to Information Act – she criticised its poor implementation. “Many public institutions still have no designated information officers and routinely ignore requests,” she said, adding that journalists are frequently denied basic data on contracts and public spending.
In a major boost for the Union, Ms Keita announced that the government has finally allocated a 25-by-25 metre plot in Brusubi for the long-awaited National Press Bantaba. The planned five-storey complex will house the GPU Secretariat, the Media Academy for Journalism and Communication (MAJaC), affiliate organisations, and the Media Council of The Gambia. She appealed for government and partner support to construct the facility, which she called essential for the sector’s sustainability.
Minister of Information Dr Ismaila Ceesay congratulated the GPU for a decade of professionalising journalism and pledged continued reforms. “Journalist safety is not a privilege but a right,” he stressed, acknowledging rising online harassment – particularly against women journalists – alongside misinformation and resource constraints. He promised closer collaboration with regulators, the Information Commission, and development partners to create a safer, more ethical media ecosystem.
Mustapha K. Darboe of The Republic dominated the night, walking away with the prestigious Journalist of the Year award and sweeping four categories: Tax Reporting, Children’s Reporting, Investigative Reporting, and Migration & Human Trafficking Reporting.
Women journalists shone brightly: Aisha Tamba (Malagen) won Legal Affairs Reporting, Nyima Sillah (The Voice) took Women’s Reporting, Halimatou Ceesay (SheTale Media Network) claimed Human Rights Reporting, and Kaddy Jawo (Al Jazeera) received the special FGM Reporting Award.
In broadcast categories, Momodou S. Jallow (GRTS) won Health & Medical Reporting, and Momodou Gajaga won the sports reporting category. Collaborative entries underscored growing cross-newsroom partnerships in Business & Finance Reporting. Foroyaa’s Yankuba Jallow walked home with the Political Reporting Award,
