Sulemana Alhassan Tarimbia, a journalist with Zaa Multimedia, has been adjudged Agricultural Reporter of the Year at the 2025 Northern Region Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards in recognition of his outstanding reporting on agricultural innovation in Northern Ghana.
His award-winning report, titled “Cocoa Production in the North: Northern Farmer Breaks Myth as 13-Year Cocoa Experiment Thrives in Bimbilla,” highlighted the determination and innovation of Mohammed Anchela, a farmer at Salnaa-Yili in the Nanumba North Municipality, who challenged the long-held belief that cocoa could not thrive in Northern Ghana.
Despite the challenges associated with establishing a cocoa farm in a hard-to-reach community, Anchela persevered with his experiment, which initially attracted little attention.
However, a report filed by Tarimbia and aired on Zaa Multimedia’s platforms brought the farmer’s innovation to the attention of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), prompting a delegation to visit the farm to assess the initiative.
Anchela was subsequently recognised as the Best Innovative Farmer of the Year at the 2025 National Farmers’ Day celebration held in the Volta Region, marking a significant milestone for agricultural innovation in Northern Ghana.
Speaking to Zaa News after receiving his award, Tarimbia urged journalists in Northern Ghana to pay greater attention to stories that highlight the region’s potential and development opportunities.
“Journalists in the Northern Region must be deliberate in projecting the potential of our region, particularly in agriculture, innovation and culture. There are inspiring stories within our communities that deserve national attention,” he said.
The sixth Northern Region GJA Awards was held under the theme: “Empowering the Next Generation: The Role of the Media in Digital Skills, Innovation and Youth Opportunities.”
In his address, Northern Regional GJA Chairman, Yakubu Abdul-Majeed, congratulated the award winners and urged them to sustain their commitment to impactful journalism.
He said the regional executives were determined to empower and protect journalists to enable them to perform their professional duties without fear or favour.
“We are therefore charging journalists in the region to, at all times, offer constructive criticism. Let us ask critical questions with the sole aim of ensuring judicious use of resources. We need to assist the citizenry to hold duty bearers more accountable and responsible,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chief Editor of Zaa Multimedia, Ibrahim A. Alhassan, expressed satisfaction with the organisation’s performance at the awards, where its journalists secured four awards.
He congratulated Tarimbia on winning Agricultural Reporter of the Year and commended Yakubu Abdul Wahab Yumzaa, who won three awards: Education Reporter of the Year, Health Reporter of the Year, and the prestigious overall Northern Region Journalist of the Year.
Alhassan said the achievements reflected the journalists’ dedication to professional excellence and Zaa Multimedia’s commitment to impactful, public-interest journalism that highlights local innovation, promotes development and gives a voice to communities across Northern Ghana.
Source: zaaghana.com
