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Tamale, Ghana – The Northern Regional Minister has underscored the need for journalists and other media professionals to paint a good image of the region through their reportage.
According to Alhaji Shani Alhassan Saibu, the region was awash with so many beautiful cultures and tourist sites that deserve the attention of journalists and media professionals to highlight them in order to attract many foreigners and investors.
Speaking at the launch of the Northern Region Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) 2022 Awards at the Northern Regional Coordinating Council, the Minister also urged journalists to report accurately so as to avoid the tendency of injuring the reputation of individuals and institutions.
Alhaji Saibu however commended journalists in the region for their contribution towards the peaceful resolution of the Dagbon chieftaincy dispute through their positive reportages.
He said terrorism was another great challenge to the peace of the region and country as a whole, and stressed the need for journalists and broadcasters to help in curbing the raging threat of terrorism which was hovering around the nations borders with her neighbours.
A representative of the President of the Ghana Journalists Association, Rebecca Ekpe, commended leadership of the Northern Region GJA for taking the lead to hold the Awards for journalists at the regional level.
She encouraged journalists in the region to submit entries to any of the many categories when nominations open.
Ms. Ekpe, however observed, that the “multiplicity and duplicity of media houses” in the country was increasingly making it difficult for various stakeholders including the GJA to ensure responsible journalism.
She therefore urged journalists and other media practitioners to endeavor to always abide by the ethics of the journalism profession.
Northern Regional Chairman of the GJA, Abdul-Majeed Yakubu said the Awards was seeking to highlight the culture of the people of the Northern, North East and Savannah Regions and tourist sites.
“In fact, there are numerous sites across the length and breadth of the area, but probably these have not been marketed very well to the world. We believe that, given the needed attention and exposure, these could lead to increase patronage of the tourism sites which would go a long way to creating the needed jobs for the teaming unemployed youth here.”
Mr. Yakubu added: “There are nine categories to be competed for such as: water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), education, health, tourism and culture, disability, rural reporting, agriculture, road safety, peace and conflict sensitive reporting, and the regional journalist of the year position.
He indicated that, the Awards was opened to all practicing journalists in the three regions irrespective of whether one was a member of the GJA or not.
He also expressed gratitude to the Regional Minister, the Regional Lands office, the Director of DVLA, Managing Director of NEDCo and Regional Manager of TATA Motor Limited for expressing their readiness and willingness to support the GJA Awards and other activities.
This years Northern Region GJA Awards is on the theme: Promoting Tourism and Culture to Create Jobs: The Role of The Media. The Awards Committee is made up of seasoned journalists like Mr. Illiasu Adam, former correspondent of the BBC and now Northern Regional Head of the Minerals Commission, Mr. Saaka Mohammed, News Editor at GBC and Mr. Kwabena Effah, Head of Communications at Savana Signatures.
Entry Requirements
Entries for the Awards are opened from Friday September 23 and closes on Monday October 10th 2022. Radio, television, print and online journalists who have published stories between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021 are eligible to submit entries to any of the nine categories. Entrants may submit entries for a maximum of two categories and not more than two published works should be submitted for each category. One work or story shall not be entered in more than one category.
Entries or nominations should be titled GJA N/R Media Awards 2022. The GJA is not bound to give an award in a category if it does not merit one. Entries from the print media must be scanned and emailed as attached files while audio and video files relative to radio, television and multimedia must be emailed using a we transfer software.
By SavannahNewsOnline.Com/Philip Liebs
