Akumaa Mama Zimbi, known in private life as Mrs. Joyce Akumaa Dongotey-Padi, was on July 1, awarded the Best Female Radio Personality of the Year for her versatility and hard work on radio, at this year’s Arts Critics and Reviewers Association of Ghana (ACRAG) awards. This is the second time she is being honoured by ACRAG. In 1999, she received the ACRAG Talent Award for Discovery, for her acting role in Cantata which is shown GTV.

The Adom Fm presenter, in a short interview, expressed her gratitude for the award saying it confirms her accolade as the ‘Queen of Talk Shows’ in Ghana.

Others nominated for the same award were media giants like Doreen Andoh of Joy fm, Ewura Abena of Radio Gold and Delores Frimpong Manso (Delay) of Oman fm.

Meanwhile the awards which was instituted to honour individuals who have excelled in the arts and entertainment industry has been sharply criticized by one of the winners, Kwaw Kese, who claimed the best hip life plaque awarded to him was “shabbily carved”.

Ahead of the awards night at the National Theatre, the event was criticized also for the sidelining of personalities in the print media.

Not a single individual from the print media was nominated for the awards but their contemporaries in the electronic media as well as the music and movie industries got encouraging nominations.

However some award winners, who saw nothing wrong with the awards, expressed their happiness to have received the awards.

Some personalities who picked awards in the public vote category were Kwame Sefa Kayi - Best Male Radio Personality, Jackie Appiah - Best Screen Actress, Kofi ‘Agya Koo’ Adu - Best Screen Actor, Bola Ray - Best Compere, Christiana Love - Best Gospel Album, Kofi B - Best Highlife Music and Obuor and AB Crentsil - Best Music Collaboration, Paa T - Best Dance-Contemporary.

Other Special Awards went to the Winneba Youth Choir for Best Choral Music, Slim Busterr for Best Entertainer, Afia Konadu for Contribution to Radio on Social Issues, and Mawuli Semevor for Best Stage Actor.

The rest were Obour for Best Creative Song on Road Safety, Agartha Ofori for Acting Discovery, Becca for Music Discovery and Kwaku Sakyi Addo for Contribution to Television on Political and Social Issues.

The Flagstar of ACRAG went to internationally-acclaimed writer Ama Ata Aidoo.

Recognitions under Cultural Ambassador designation went to George Dzikunu for Dance, Kofi Ansah for Fashion Design, Kwesi Owusu for Poetry and Cultural Advocacy, Nii Ayikwei Parkes for Poetry and Literary Advocacy, Paa C. Oshipi Quaye for Drama, Mustapha Tetteh Addy for Traditional Music, Kwaku Sintim Misa for Comedy and Ofeibea Quist-Arcton for Broadcasting.