Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG) has rebranded its flagship international awards programme, changing its name from the HRRG Global RightsCon Awards to the HRRG Global RightsShield Awards.
The organisation said the new name took immediate effect and formed part of efforts to strengthen the awards programme’s independent global identity and expand its international reach.
A statement issued by HRRG and copied to Mydailynews.com said the rebranding reflected the organisation’s long-term vision of building an international platform to recognise outstanding leadership and contributions to human rights, democratic governance, justice, peace, digital inclusion, sustainable development, and global cooperation.
It said the new name symbolises HRRG’s commitment to promoting and protecting human rights, democratic values, civic freedoms, the rule of law, and human dignity.
The statement explained that the awards programme remained an independent initiative founded, owned, organised, and administered by HRRG and continued to operate under the organisation’s governance and selection processes.
“The awards are guided by the principles of integrity, transparency, professionalism, impartiality, credibility and excellence,” it stated.
HRRG said the rebranding would not affect the status or validity of honours conferred during the inaugural edition of the awards, noting that all recipients honoured previously would continue to be recognised as inaugural awardees.
According to the organisation, the maiden edition honoured distinguished leaders, public officials, diplomats, human rights defenders, civil society organisations, institutions, and other changemakers whose work has contributed to democratic governance, public service, diplomacy, digital rights, innovation, sustainable development, and social justice.
Dr. Joseph Kobla Wemakor, Executive Director of HRRG, described the rebranding as an important step in the organisation’s efforts to establish an internationally recognised awards platform.
“The HRRG Global RightsShield Awards represent more than a change of name. They reflect our long-term vision of building a credible, independent and internationally respected platform that recognises individuals and institutions whose leadership, integrity, innovation and service continue to advance human rights, democracy, justice, peace and sustainable development,” he said.
Dr. Wemakor said HRRG would continue to honour individuals and institutions whose work promoted positive transformation across Africa and the international community.
He said the organisation also sought to strengthen collaboration with governments, multilateral organisations, diplomatic missions, development partners, academic institutions, civil society organisations, philanthropic foundations, media organisations, and the private sector to advance shared values of human rights, democratic governance, justice, innovation, peace, and sustainable development.
He said such partnerships would enhance the global reach and impact of the awards while maintaining HRRG as the programme’s founder and sole organiser.
HRRG said it envisioned the Global RightsShield Awards becoming a leading international platform for recognising excellence in governance, diplomacy, civil society, academia, journalism, innovation, philanthropy, and sustainable development.
The organisation expressed appreciation to inaugural award recipients, supporters, partners, media organisations, and other stakeholders for their contributions to the successful establishment of the awards programme.
Human Rights Reporters Ghana is a dynamic Ghanaian human rights and media-focused civil society organisation that promotes human dignity, democratic accountability, social justice, civic participation, and sustainable development through advocacy, investigative journalism, research, capacity building, access to justice, and strategic partnerships in Ghana and beyond.
The organisation has received national and international recognition for its work, including the 5th UN Global Entreps Award for Best International Practice on Sustainability for its nationwide KTT Project, which benefited more than 60,000 people.
Its other recognitions include the Africa Peace Advocate Award (2023), finalist status in the African Human Rights Defenders Shield Awards (2023), inclusion among Ghana’s 100 Most Impactful Changemakers (2024), recognition by the World Bank for contributions to the Equality of Opportunity for Sexual and Gender Minorities (EQOSOGI) Report, and a feature in Business Woman Club International Magazine of Ukraine for its work in promoting women’s rights during the COVID-19 pandemic.
HRRG also convenes and supports more than 500 civil society organisations through the Youth Sub-Platform of the Ghana Civil Society Organizations Platform on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and has represented Ghana at major regional and international forums, including the United Nations High-Level Political Forum, the Pan-African Human Rights and Social Justice Conference, and the International Seminar on Enhancing Human Rights Activities in North Korea.
By HRRG News Desk
