The 2023 Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) awards ceremony for Journalists working in the print, electronic and online media in the Northern, North East and Savannah Regions, has been launched with a call on Journalists and Media Practitioners to collaborate with State institutions in communicating the right messages to the citizenry and also to draw attention to activities that destroy the environment.
The Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Shani Alhassan Shaibu, who was the Guest of Honour, made the call when he launched the annual event at the conference hall of the Northern Regional Coordinating Council (NRCC) in Tamale on August 14, 2023.
The theme of the 2023 Northern Region GJA awards ceremony is, “promoting responsible behaviour to protect the environment: the role of the media”.
“I want to use the opportunity of this year’s celebration, to call for a closer collaboration between state institutions and Journalists in the region to address issues of the environment. I believe that if we recognize the role of each other, we can work closely for a common good”, the Minister stated.
He lamented that the behaviours of Ghanaians as a people is largely to blame for the environmental challenges such as galamsey (illegal mining), uncontrolled felling of trees, bush burning, building in water ways, open defecation and indiscriminate dumping of refuse we face today.
“Whilst we in government continue to pursue the enactment and implementation of the relevant policies, projects and programmes to deal with these issues, it is important other non-government and non-state actors, civil society organisations and of course the media, to contribute their part for us to present a collective action”, he advocated.
However, he admitted that there have been instances where Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies and other state institutions have not lived up to expectation in enforcing their own bye-laws on protecting the environment and assured of efforts by government to address the situation.
The Minister lauded Journalists for highlighting issues which he said has contributed to progress and development and sustaining peace and security in the region.
He also spoke about the occasional friction between public officials and Journalists and appealed Journalists to carry out their advocacy roles for development for the people devoid of personal attacks.
“I would urge that we identify ourselves as seeking a common good of a better life for our people and that should be the rallying point for us. We can criticize each other on principles and leave out our personalities. Let us continue to work together for the benefit of our people. Let us work to reduce tension in our society and bring more focus to progress and development”, he advised.
In his address, the Northern Regional Chairman of the GJA, Mr. Yakubu Abdul-Majeed, said the theme was chosen to reflect the times we find ourselves in now and how endangering the environment can spell doom for us as a people.
He urged his colleagues to use their media platforms for healthy debates on issues of national importance to foster unity, development and progress to help create and sustain peace and unity not only in the north, but Ghana as a whole.
He commended partners of the media for their unceasing support and appealed to them to continue to offer the needed assistance to ensure a successful organisation of this year’s awards ceremony.
Mr. Albert Futukpor, the Regional GJA Secretary, announced that entries for the awards are to be original works including audio and video files relative to radio and television broadcasts published between 1st January and 31st December, 2022.
This year’s awards is in 12 categories. Entrants may submit entries for a maximum of two categories and not more than two published works for each category. Entries opens from 18th August 2023 and closes on 15th September, 2023 at 6pm.
The 12 categories of award are: environmental reporting, development Journalism in furthering the Sustainable Development Goals, water, sanitation and hygiene, education, mental health, tourism and culture, disability, sports reporting, agriculture, road safety, peace and conflict sensitive reporting, and the Regional Journalist of the Year who will be chosen from among the winners of the categories.
The Chief Director at the NRCC, Alhaji Issahaku Alhassan who chaired the launch, commended the Northern Region GJA for the choice of the theme, pointing out that if the award categories were to successfully carried out, it will address virtually all the development challenges confronting the region.
In this regard, he said Journalists have a critical role to play in the region’s development agenda.
He, however, appealed to them to educate the people to avoid activities that contribute to the destruction of the environment, charging them also to as part of their advocacy roles, hold public officials accountable for their stewardship.
Officials from the Northern Region office of the National Road Safety Authority as well as non-governmental and civil society organisations including Total Life Enhancement Centre (TOLEC), a mental health advocacy organisation and Ghana Developing Communities Association, attended the launch.
