Journalist Mandela Yaw Anuvabe of Media General and 3Sports has gained continental acclaim after placing fifth in Africa in the Young Reporters Writing category at the AIPS Awards 2025.
His recognition follows a standout feature on the Accra Sports Stadium disaster, which claimed 127 lives and remains Africa’s deadliest stadium disaster. The article, titled “How ice cream became an unlikely lifesaver during Africa’s worst stadium disaster,” was praised for its originality and compelling narrative.
The piece revisits the tragic events of May 9, 2001, from a unique perspective, focusing on how yogurt ice cream helped some fans cope with the effects of tear gas during the chaos. Drawing on first-hand survivor accounts, the story highlights how the substance eased breathing difficulties at a critical moment.
Anuvabe’s work stood out for shifting attention from official accounts to personal experiences, offering fresh insight into a widely documented tragedy.
His achievement also reflects Ghana’s growing influence in international sports journalism, as he was among only two Ghanaian journalists to make the AIPS longlist and rank among the top performers on the continent.
The AIPS Awards are widely regarded as one of the most prestigious honours in global sports media, celebrating excellence in storytelling, reporting, and innovation.
For Anuvabe, the recognition marks a major career milestone and underscores the power of Ghanaian storytelling in preserving and re-examining significant moments in sports history.
Source: 3news
