GJA Northern Regional Chapter launches 4th edition Awards
The Northern Regional chapter of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has launched the 2024 regional awards to celebrate the crucial role journalists play in this part of the country.
The competition is open to journalists in the Northern, North East and Savannah Regions in the print, television, radio, and online media.
It is on the theme: “Ensuring Violence-Free Elections: The Role of the Media.”
There are 14 categories and submission of entries begins from Friday, July 12, to August 9th 2024.
The categories are Development Journalism in Furthering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Environmental Reporting, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Education, Mental Health, Tourism and Culture, Disability, Sports Reporting, Agriculture, Road Safety, Peace and Conflict Sensitive Reporting.
In his opening remarks, at the launching ceremony in Tamale on Wednesday July 10, 2024, the Northern Regional chairman of GJA, Mr. Yakubu Abdul Majeed said the selection of the theme for this year awards was necessary as the country is gearing towards the December 7th general elections.
“This theme is not merely a slogan, but a call to action. It is part of our strategy to solicit views and suggestions on how we can collectively contribute to peaceful elections in our regions and the country as a whole. We aim to foster dialogue, promote understanding, and champion responsible journalism during this critical period”.
He thus caution media partitioners in the region not to allow their mediums to be used to ferment trouble.
“I want to use this occasion to caution our colleagues in the region: never allow your medium to be used by unscrupulous individuals or rabble-rousers to foment trouble. It is imperative that we all utilize the knowledge acquired from our numerous fact-checking training sessions. Verify every piece of information you intend to publish, and ensure accuracy and balanced reportage at all times.”
Speaking on behalf of the Northern Regional Minister the Coordinating Director of the Northern Regional Coordinating Council Mr Mumuni Dama, commended the leadership of the GJA for focusing on violent free elections come December 7th 2024.
He said the selection of the theme for this year’s awards is not only timeous but also appropriate as the government and other stakeholders are working hard to ensure peaceful elections.
“It is our collective responsibility to protect, and sustain the peace in the country. It is only under peace and unity that we can bring development to the people of the country particularly the Northern Region,” he said.
He encourages the media practitioners in the region to seek to the profession ethics in order not to jeopardize the peace in the region.
“I will urge the media most especially those of you who sit behind the microphones to seek professional ethics in order not to jeopardize the peace in the region. I will also entreat you not to engage in deliberate efforts to tarnish the image of others, ” he advised.
Story By: Alhassan Yakubu |www.diamondfmonline.com |Ghana.
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