Upper East Regional Minister Urges Journalists to Uphold Accuracy, Professionalism and Accountability.

By – Gladys Apuweni

The Upper East Regional Minister, Honourable Donatus Atanga Akamugri, has urged journalists to uphold accuracy, professionalism and accountability in the discharge of their duties, particularly in an era increasingly influenced by social media, artificial intelligence and the rapid spread of misinformation and disinformation

According to the Minister, the media remains indispensable to democracy, serving not only as a channel for reporting events but also as a platform for informing citizens, amplifying the voices of communities, scrutinising public institutions and promoting meaningful public discourse

He made the call on Friday, September 4, 2026, when he officially launched the 5th Upper East Regional Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards on behalf of the Regional Coordinating Council and the people of the region

Hon. Akamugri said the decision to recognise excellence in journalism goes beyond celebrating individual journalists, describing the awards as an important investment in professionalism, ethical journalism, accountability and the overall development of the Upper East Region.
He noted that the changing media landscape had placed an even greater responsibility on journalists to verify information before publication, investigate issues thoroughly and report fairly and responsibly

He cautioned that the demand for speed in the digital era must not come at the expense of accuracy and credibility.
“Speed must not replace accuracy, sensationalism must not replace substance and political or commercial interests must never compromise professional ethics,” the Minister stressed, adding that the credibility of journalism ultimately rests on the credibility of the journalist

He further encouraged stakeholders to recognise development as a collective responsibility and urged the media to move beyond headline driven reporting to become an even stronger instrument for public education, accountability, good governance and sustainable development

Declaring the 5th Upper East Regional GJA Awards officially launched, Hon. Akamugri wished the GJA a successful and credible awards process and congratulated all journalists participating in the competition

He also reaffirmed the importance of a responsible, professional and independent media to the growth of the region and the country, while expressing hope that the awards would continue to inspire journalists to uphold the highest standards of their profession

The 5th Upper East Regional GJA Awards therefore comes as a platform to celebrate journalistic excellence while encouraging practitioners to remain committed to truth, ethical reporting and service to the public good