Two journalists in the Tamale office of the Ghana News Agency (GNA) won three awards during the 2023 Northern Region Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards organised in Tamale.

They are Ms Rosemary Wayo, a Chief Reporter, who won the Best Reporter in Road Safety, and the Best Reporter in Peace and Conflict Sensitive reporting, and Mr Solomon Gumah, a Stringer, who won the Best Reporter in Agriculture.

Other award winners included Yakubu Abdul-Wahab Yumzaa of Zaa TV, who won Best Reporter in Disability, and Tourism, Arts and Culture categories, Bawa Abdul-Mugis of Sagani TV, who won Best Reporter in Sports, Mohammed Fugu of the Daily Graphic, who won Best Reporter in Climate Change and Environmental Reporting, and Alhassan Dokurugu of Asaase Radio, who won Best Reporter in Water and Sanitation and Hygiene.

Mr Christopher Amoako of TV3 won the Best Reporter in Education, and Best Reporter in Development Journalism in Furthering the Sustainable Development Goals and was adjudged the Regional Journalist o
f the Year, 2023.

Miss Kausar Musah of Sagani TV was adjudged the Most Promising Young Female Regional Broadcaster of the Year, 2023 while Miss Issahaku Walkiyatu of Filla FM received the Most Promising Young Female Regional Journalist of the Year, 2023 Award.

All the award winners took home a laptop each, plaque, and citation as their prizes.

Jata FM, which is based in Karaga was awarded Best Radio Station in the Northern Region, Nkligi FM, which is based in Bole, was adjudged the Best Radio Station in the Savannah Region, and Zaa TV, which is based in Tamale, was adjudged the Best TV Station in Northern Region.

Baobab Microfinance Company Limited was also awarded as the Best Microfinance Company in the Northern Region.

Mr Mohammed Baako Alhassan of NTV was given the achievement award for his outstanding contribution to the development of sports journalism in the region.

Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Bagbin, and Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, Minister for Finance were also given special citations for their s
upport for press freedom in the country.

The Award was on the theme: ‘Ensuring Violence-Free Elections: The Role of the Media’.

It was sponsored by Feed the Future Ghana Policy LINK Activity, Northern Electricity Distribution Company Limited, Ghana Developing Communities Association, Norsaac, CAMFED-Ghana, Transforming Teaching, Education and Learning, World Vision Ghana, Baobab Microfinance Company Limited, Children Believe, BasicNeeds-Ghana, Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency, Twellium Industrial Company, and CSD Reform.

Mr Yakubu Abdul-Majeed, Northern Regional Chairman of the GJA, speaking at the ceremony, expressed pride in recognising the achievements of hardworking journalists.

He lauded the awardees for their commitment to pursuing truth, holding duty bearers accountable, telling necessary stories and emphasising the significance of their work and courage displayed by the reports.

He urged media professionals to commit to fact-based journalism and avoid what he termed ‘political journal
ism,’ which often failed to provide critical analysis.

Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, Minister for Finance, who was the Guest Speaker, commended journalists for their dedication and resilience in the face of significant challenges.

He highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to improve social conditions through various interventions such as investments in education and health, and progress in reducing inflation and managing currency depreciation despite global economic challenges.

He announced a GHc500,000 scholarship fund for journalists in the region to be known as the ‘Anta GJA Scholarship for Journalists in Northern Region’.

He said the scholarship was to support five journalists annually for the next five years, as a way of providing financial assistance for their education and career advancement.

He called for continued support for government initiatives while maintaining accountability and expressed confidence in the country’s economic recovery and growth.

Mr Alban Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament, whos
e speech was read on his behalf by Madam Kate Addo, expressed the need for the media to prioritise balanced reporting, particularly considering heightened political tensions and encouraged practitioners to adhere to professional standards.

He expressed gratitude to the GJA for its commitment to ensuring free, fair, and credible elections.

Mr Albert Dwumfour, President, GJA noted that the working conditions of journalists were awful and said they were one of the poorly paid working groups in the country.

He called on the government, through the Minister for Finance, to improve the conditions of work of journalists through improved salaries and made a special case for journalists working in the state-owned media and mentioned particularly the Ghana News Agency and the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation.

Source: Ghana News Agency