Stephen Ofori Amo, a student pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Brands and Communication Management at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), has won the Grand Prize for the 2023 Earth Day ‘Capture the Change’ Photography Contest.
His winning photograph depicts a young child surrounded by the stark reality of climate change, venting the frustrations of a generation yet seemingly ready to take action.
The annual photo competition, organised by the U.S. Embassy in Accra, aims to give young Ghanaians an opportunity to show the effects of climate change on their communities.
The contest received more than 100 submissions from both professional and amateur photographers.
The judges assessed each photograph based on quality, relevance to the theme, storytelling, and the appropriateness of the caption.
“Receiving this recognition presents a valuable chance for me to collaborate with fellow creatives and sustainability organisations in exploring how art can drive climate action,” Stephen Amo told UPSA Media.
“I feel motivated to continue sharing stories that have the power to make a difference in people’s lives and influence the course of our world.
“Additionally, I am confident the knowledge I have acquired from UPSA and the photography training I received from this competition will enhance my creative abilities and enable me to strengthen my portfolio.”
Commenting on the competition, the U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Evelyn Palmer said “these photos clearly show how young Ghanaians are experiencing our changing climate.”
“I am really impressed by their creativity and optimism, as well as their emotional resolve to address the climate crisis. This initiative forms part of the U.S. government’s commitment to partnering with Ghana to tackle the climate crisis.”
Stephen Ofori Amo is a conceptual/documentary photographer and an art director.
He portrays different perspectives in his visuals with compelling meaning. He is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Brands and Communications Management at UPSA to develop a high-level understanding of contemporary branding and communications techniques.
Last year, he was the first runner-up in the “documentary of the year” category of the AGORA global awards hosted in Spain.
