JoySports journalist Nathaniel Attoh has been named Sports Journalist of the Year at the 30th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards.
Attoh, widely known as Citizen Attoh, received the honour at a ceremony in Accra on Saturday, November 7. He defeated Media General’s Bill Eshun to take the award, which recognised his documentary The Audacious Leap.
The film tells the story of Ghanaian para-athlete Gilbert Ampiah and his efforts to overcome physical challenges while pursuing a career in athletics.
It was first broadcast on JoyNews on May 19, 2025, and focused on Ampiah’s development as a high jumper at St Augustine’s College in Cape Coast. He was a 16-year-old student at the school when the documentary was produced.
As part of the project, Attoh travelled to the college and interviewed people who had played important roles in Ampiah’s progress. Those featured included his father, teachers, trainers and colleagues.
Ampiah was born with a leg deformity but has continued to make progress as one of Ghana’s promising junior para-athletes. He has ambitions of competing at the highest level internationally.
His performances in training before the 2025 inter-schools competition drew considerable attention on social media, helping to introduce his ability and determination to a wider audience.
Ampiah cleared 1.60 metres at Ekumfi Atwa in 2023 while competing against able-bodied athletes. He later improved that mark by clearing a personal best of 1.82 metres at the inter-house competition at St Augustine’s College.
He has also won an international medal, taking bronze in the High Jump T44 category at the Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan International Para Athletics Meeting in Marrakech, Morocco. Ampiah cleared 1.73 metres in the event to secure his first medal on the international stage.
Attoh’s success means a JoySports journalist has won the Sports Journalist of the Year award for the third successive year.
He follows Muftawu Nabila Abdulai, who claimed the title in both 2024 and 2025.
The award was presented by the Chief Executive Officer of Wembley Sports Construction, who announced a cash prize of GH¢50,000 for Attoh in recognition of his work.
