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GJA Award Journalists for contributing to peace and development

By Rashid Mbugri, GNA 

Tamale, Sept 11, GNA – The Northern Regional
Branch of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) on Tuesday awarded eight
journalists and three radio stations at its maiden awards ceremony in Tamale.

The ceremony was aimed at honouring
journalists in the region for their immense contributions to promoting peace
and development in the region.

The ceremony was on the theme:
“Promoting Peace in Northern Ghana. The Role Of The Media”.

The competitive categories included Rural
and Agricultural Reporting, Health, Sanitation and Environmental Reporting,
Gender and Child Rights amongst others.

Mr Mohammed Baba Kamil of TV Africa won two
categories, taking the overall Best Journalists for the Northern Region and the
Best News Reporter.

Mr Mohammed Hashmin of Joy News received the
Best Reporter award in Health, Mr Mohammed Fugu of the Daily Graphic was
adjudged Best Reporter in Education while Miss Diana Ngon of Citi News won the
Best Peace Sensitive Reporter.

Other awardees  included Miss Joyce Kantam of GBC, as Best
Gender and Child Rights Reporter,  Mr
Yahaya Masahudu of the Finder newspaper as Best Rural and Agriculture Reporter.
Mr Eric Kombat of the Daily Guide won the Best Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
Reporter while Miss Sayida Malititi Sadik of Sagani TV was awarded the Most
Promising Female Reporter.

Diamond FM, Radio 123 and Justice FM were
radio stations award for contributing to promoting peace, unity and development
in the Northern Region.

Citations of honour were awarded to some
deserving retired journalists who had served and contributed in impact on the
livelihoods of the people in the region.

A special citation of honour was given to Mr
Salifu Saeed, the Northern Regional Minister in recognition of his contribution
to the peace and unity in Dagbon and the Northern Region.

The Sagnari Naa, Yakubu Abdullai, Paramount
Chief of the Sagnarigu Traditional Area, who chaired the function said the
theme for the event was appropriate considering the development challenges
confronting the region.

He called on the media and other
stakeholders to help advocate to sustain the peace and development in the area.

Mr Ceaser Abagali, the Chairman for the
Northern Regional Branch of the GJA advised journalists to avoid reporting on
negative issues that had the potential to retard the progress and development
of the region and the country as a whole.

“It is important for us to accept and
say Never again shall negative reportage emanate from the Northern
Region”, and called for immediate halt to the inhumane attacks on media
personnel.

He gave the assurance that as journalists,
they had resolved to be strong against selfish individuals to name and shame
people who may attempt to influence the media to fan conflicts that would
affect the people in the Northern Region.

Mrs. Linda Asante-Agyei, the Vice President
of the GJA commended journalists for their role in promoting peace, unity and development
in the Northern Region and urged them to use their various media platforms to
protect the prevailing peace in the region.

She asked the media to at all times, weigh
the full implications of what they say and write in order not to compromise the
existing peace adding that, “peace is priceless and no amount of money can buy
it”.

Professor Gabriel Ayum Teye, the
Vice-Chancellor of the University for Development Studies urged journalists in
the region to adopt strategies in reporting on issues that would promote and
enhance peace and development.

He entreated journalists to take advantage
of some journalism related courses and programmes the University was offering
to help enhance their knowledge and skills in the field.

Mr Salifu Saeed, Northern Regional Minister,
acknowledged the efforts of journalists in the region in promoting and
contributing to the achievement of peace in the Dabgon peace processes.

GNA

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