Benjamin Nii-Lartey Ayiku, the founder and editor-in-chief of DisabilityNewsGH.com, Ghana’s pioneering online news platform dedicated to disability issues, was honoured with the Excellence in Disability Representation in the Media Award at the inaugural awards ceremony of the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD) on Monday, June 23, 2025.
The award recognises Ayiku’s outstanding contribution to promoting disability rights and inclusion through his work at DisabilityNewsGH.com, which has become a leading voice for the disability community in Ghana.
He was among 20 individuals recognised across different categories at the GFD Excellence Awards, held in conjunction with this year’s National Day for Persons with Disabilities. Other categories included advocacy in disability rights and inclusion, long-term service to the federation, and recognition of the organisation’s founding members, child activism, among others.
The award citation read: “For your outstanding contributions and commitment to promoting disability representation and inclusion in the media. Through tireless advocacy, you have helped amplify the voices of persons with disabilities, bringing their stories to wider audiences. Your work has fostered greater understanding, acceptance, and opportunities for positive change.”
For Ayiku, this award is particularly meaningful. “Being the first journalist in Ghana to receive this prestigious award is truly humbling, especially as I mark 20 years of disability rights advocacy,” Ayiku stated. “It is also the second time I have had the honour of being the first journalist recognised specifically for disability reporting. Previously, in 2019, I was named Journalist of the Year at the inaugural Africa Disability Reporters Awards by the Africa Disability Alliance in South Africa.”
These accomplishments underscore Ayiku’s unwavering commitment to amplifying the voices and sharing the stories of persons with disabilities, not only in Ghana but across the African continent.
Benjamin Nii-Lartey Ayiku has consistently used his platform to raise awareness about the challenges faced by persons with disabilities, advocate for policy changes, and celebrate the achievements of individuals within the disability community.
Beyond DisabilityNewsGH.com, Ayiku utilises various media formats, including documentaries, news articles, and short drama films, distributed through both traditional and social media channels, to advocate for disability rights and inclusion. He also leverages social media to seek funding and support for individuals with disabilities facing critical challenges.
The Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD), the umbrella body representing various disability associations in the country, hosted the awards ceremony to showcase the breadth of commitment within the disability community.
In addition to Ayiku, the GFD Star Award, the event’s highest honour, was presented to Mr. Yaw Ofori Debra, a former president of the GFD and immediate past board chair of the National Council on Persons with Disability, celebrating his extraordinary and far-reaching impact on the federation and the disability movement in Ghana.
The awards ceremony served as a powerful reminder of the ongoing need for advocacy and inclusion, and highlighted the significant contributions of individuals like Benjamin Ayiku who are working tirelessly to create a more equitable and just society for all.
SOURCE: DisabilityNewsGH.com
