Upper East GJA Awards: Media credibility remains its most powerful tool – Dr. Apaak

Deputy Education Minister Dr Clement Apaak has cautioned journalists against fake news and partisan reporting, urging them to uphold professionalism and accountability in their work.

Addressing the 4th Upper East Regional GJA Awards in Bolgatanga on October 10, 2025, on behalf of Dr Apaak, his Aide, Sampson Samari, said the media’s credibility remains its most powerful tool in promoting accountable governance.

“Sensationalism, fake news, and partisan reporting can erode trust just as much as corruption does,” he warned. “If the media is to hold others accountable, it must itself remain accountable to the truth, to fairness, and to professional ethics.”

He described journalists as the “bridge between the governed and the governors” and emphasized their indispensable role in deepening democracy.

“You give voice to communities that often feel forgotten,” he said. “When you report on the plight of traders or children learning on the floor, you make it impossible for leaders to ignore.”

Dr Apaak, who is also the Member of Parliament for Builsa South, assured that the government recognizes the vital role of the media and remains committed to protecting press freedom and the safety of journalists.

“We may not always agree with you, and we don’t have to agree with you,” he noted, “but without a free, vibrant, and courageous press, our democracy will not survive.”

He encouraged the media to continue asking tough questions and demanding transparency, saying that this is the surest path to strengthening public trust.

“Your credibility is your strongest weapon,” he stressed. “Hold us accountable and insist on evidence.”

Dr Apaak further called for collective responsibility among leaders, citizens, and journalists in building an accountable society.

“Public trust is fragile,” he said. “It takes years to build, seconds to lose, and sometimes forever to repair. If we want a prosperous Upper East Region and a stronger Ghana, we must all play our part.”

He congratulated award winners for their contribution to national development and urged them to continue promoting truth and integrity in their reporting.

The Upper East Regional Correspondent for Media General’s TV3, Castro Senyalah, was adjudged the Overall Best Journalist for the year at the 4th Upper East Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards.

Mr. Senyalah’s investigative report on the abandonment of the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam Project, which provoked urgent public discourse and spurred a renewed government response, together with his courageous and ethically grounded coverage of the Bawku conflict, earned him the prestigious award.

He also won two other categories, including Best Conflict and Security Journalist and Best Good Governance and Accountability Journalist.