Northern Regional Minister Ali Adolf John has launched the sixth Northern Region Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards, urging journalists to uphold ethical standards, embrace digital innovation and play a leading role in empowering young people for the digital economy.
The launch, held on Tuesday at the Northern Regional Coordinating Council (NRCC) Conference Hall in Tamale, brought together journalists, heads of government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, security agencies and other stakeholders.
Speaking on behalf of the chiefs and people of the Northern Region and the Northern Regional Coordinating Council, Mr. Adolf commended the Northern Regional GJA for sustaining the awards scheme, describing it as an important platform for promoting excellence, professionalism and ethical journalism.
He said the media remains an indispensable partner in governance by informing citizens, promoting accountability, amplifying community concerns and contributing to peace, social cohesion and national development.
“A vibrant and responsible media is essential for building transparent institutions and strengthening our democracy,” the Minister said.
He noted that journalism is undergoing rapid transformation due to social media, artificial intelligence and other digital technologies. While these innovations present enormous opportunities, he cautioned that they have also increased the spread of misinformation and disinformation, making accuracy, fairness and responsible reporting more important than ever.
Mr. Adolf urged journalists to embrace digital journalism, data journalism, fact-checking and emerging technologies while maintaining the highest professional standards.
Describing the theme of this year’s awards, “Empowering the Next Generation: The Role of the Media in Digital Skills, Innovation and Youth Opportunities,” as timely, he said it aligns with President John Dramani Mahama’s vision of preparing young people for opportunities in the digital economy.
He cited government initiatives including the One Million Coders Programme, the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy and expanded digital connectivity as key interventions aimed at equipping Ghanaian youth with the skills needed to compete globally.
The Minister challenged journalists to move beyond reporting government programmes by providing practical information that helps young people access opportunities and by highlighting the achievements of young entrepreneurs, innovators, farmers and technology enthusiasts transforming communities across the Northern Region.
Reaffirming the Regional Coordinating Council’s commitment to media engagement, Mr. Adolf assured journalists of an open and transparent relationship with the media, stressing that constructive criticism is essential to good governance.
“Credibility remains the journalist’s greatest asset,” he said, urging especially young reporters to continually upgrade their skills and embrace innovation.
He also appealed to corporate organisations, public institutions and development partners to continue supporting the awards scheme before officially declaring the sixth Northern Region GJA Awards launched.
In his welcome address, Northern Regional GJA Chairman Abdul-Majeed Yakubu said the awards seek to recognise outstanding journalists while inspiring especially young media practitioners to pursue excellence and uphold professional standards.
He called on the Ministry of Education to strengthen ICT education at all levels to prepare young people for a technology-driven future.
Mr. Abdul-Majeed also appealed to media owners, managers and government to improve journalists’ salaries and conditions of service, lamenting the poor remuneration of many practitioners, particularly in the private media.
He thanked ActionAid, NEDCo, GDCA, Children Believe, CAMFED, T-TEL, School for Life, the Northern Regional Minister and other partners for supporting the awards, reaffirming the Association’s commitment to promoting ethical journalism and media development in the region.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
