The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Salifu Saeed, has called on journalists in the region to help consolidate the peace in the area.
“As major stakeholders in development, you owe a duty to assist promote and unity here,” he stated
The minister said this during the launch of the Northern Regional chapter of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) award scheme in Tamale on Friday.
The awards scheme which is on the theme ” Promoting peace in Northern Ghana: role of the media” is the first of its kind to be launched in the region and meant to honour journalists in the region for their contribution to peace and development in the region.
The awards launch, which formed part of activities to mark the 70th anniversary of the GJA, was also to promote professionalism as well as encourage journalists to continue producing excellent articles that would promote the peace and development of the region.
It would be held on August 31, this year, with nine competitive categories, including News reporting, Education, Rural and Agricultural Reporting, Health, Sanitation and Environmental Reporting, and Gender and Child Rights, promising Female Journalist.
The minister spoke about the Dagbon conflict, lauding journalists for the various roles they played in helping to successfully resolve the situation, which had now opened the doors for sustainable investment in the region
Mr Saeed also challenged the media to always remain neutral and be fair to all, saying that it was important for the journalist to continue to hold duty bearers accountable to the society.
Mr Yakubu Abdul Majeed, Northern Regional Vice Chairman of GJA, underscored the importance of peace to development, stressing the GJA in the region would work with other stakeholders to consolidate the peace in the region.
“We would never relent on our efforts to continue work closely with all stakeholders to help promote peace and development in the region,” he assured.
Mr Edmund Kofi Yeboah, General Secretary of the GJA, commended the Northern Regional Executives of the Association for the initiative, saying that, it would help raise the bar in terms of professionalism in media practice in the region.
He also pledged the support of the national executive to help ensure successful organisation of the awards scheme to motivate journalists in the region to give off their best.
Mr Yaboah further called on the management of media houses to resource their regional offices to deliver on the job.
FROM YAKUBU ABDUL-MAJEED, TAMALE