Journalist of the Year 2025, Moses Apiah, has emphasized the importance of journalists maintaining their independence in reporting development. Speaking on A1 Radio after winning the overall award at the 5th Upper East Regional Ghana Journalists Association Awards, Mr Apiah said journalists have a responsibility to independently scrutinise development commitments, public expenditure and the performance of institutions entrusted with public resources. This, he believes, is crucial in ensuring that the experiences of affected communities are not overshadowed by official accounts.
Mr Apiah stressed that development journalism must be grounded in evidence and the experiences of the people affected by public policies and interventions. He argued that journalists should use their independence and access to information to bring neglected issues into public discussion. According to him, this can be achieved by questioning why some communities continue to struggle with access to basic services despite repeated development commitments.
The Journalist of the Year 2025 award winner also noted that official announcements should not determine when journalists begin or end their scrutiny of development interventions. Instead, he said, journalists should independently follow up on projects and programmes to establish whether they are functioning and producing the results promised to the public. This, he believes, is essential in holding institutions accountable for their commitments.
Mr Apiah maintained that maintaining independence is particularly important when reporting on institutions and individuals responsible for making decisions about public resources and development. He emphasized that journalists can contribute to development without abandoning their responsibility to question those in authority and hold institutions accountable for their commitments.
The 5th Upper East Regional GJA Awards, which honored Mr Apiah, were headlined by MyTurn Constructions Limited and Lesken Enterprise Limited, with Kacstones Records and Paga Youth Movement serving as main sponsors. The event recognized outstanding journalists in the region, with Mr Apiah receiving the Overall Journalist of the Year award.
Mr Apiah's win is a testament to his commitment to independent journalism. His recognition as Journalist of the Year 2025 is a result of his tireless efforts to promote development journalism in the Upper East Region. His message to journalists is clear: maintain independence and scrutinize development commitments to ensure that the public is informed and institutions are held accountable.
The awards ceremony was a significant event in the region's journalism community, highlighting the importance of independent journalism in promoting development. Mr Apiah's speech serves as a reminder to journalists of their role in ensuring that development commitments are transparent and accountable.
Key points
- Journalists must maintain independence in reporting development to ensure accountability.
- Development journalism should be grounded in evidence and the experiences of affected communities.
- Journalists should independently follow up on projects and programmes to establish their effectiveness.
