National Chairman of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has urged journalists to subject the government’s policies, public spending and development commitments to sustained scrutiny.
He said the media has a responsibility to hold ministers accountable, examine public expenditure and track government promises to determine whether they are being fulfilled.
“This government should expect scrutiny. Ministers should answer legitimate questions. Public expenditure should be examined. The promises we made to Ghanaians should be checked against what we deliver,” Mr Asiedu Nketiah said.
He was speaking at the 4th Bono Regional Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards held in Sunyani.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah specifically called on journalists in the Bono Region to closely monitor government projects and maintain detailed records of public investments.
“There are billions of cedis of public investments underway in Bono today. I would encourage journalists in this region to keep the records,” he said.
He urged journalists to document the cost, contractors, timelines and terms of major projects and return to assess whether they had been completed and whether taxpayers had received value for money.
“Five years from now, it should be possible for somebody to go into the archives of the media in Bono and reconstruct what happened to the major development commitments being made today,” he said.
According to him, journalism should go beyond reporting government announcements to creating an accurate record against which public officials can subsequently be held accountable.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah also encouraged politicians to provide journalists with the information needed for accurate reporting and cautioned against treating difficult questions as acts of hostility.
Call for better working conditions
The NDC National Chairman further called for improved working conditions and greater institutional support for journalists.
He said media organisations needed adequate resources to employ and retain competent professionals, conduct investigations and maintain strong regional newsrooms.
“We should equally be concerned about the conditions under which journalists work,” he said.
He argued that better working conditions would enable journalists to perform their watchdog role effectively while building sustainable careers without becoming financially dependent on politicians, businesses or institutions they cover.
“If we want high professional standards, the sustainability of serious journalism deserves attention as well,” he added.
The awards ceremony was held on the theme: “Ethics, Integrity, and Impactful Journalism, Essential Ingredients for Societal Transformation.”
UENR Vice Chancellor calls for ethical journalism
The guest speaker, Vice Chancellor of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Prof Elvis Asare-Bediako, also urged journalists to uphold the principles of ethics, integrity and accuracy.
He described journalism as a form of leadership capable of influencing public opinion, shaping civic behaviour and inspiring collective action.
“It is leadership exercised not through political office or corporate authority, but through the power of words, the courage of truth, and the responsibility of influence,” he said.
Prof Asare-Bediako urged journalists to verify facts and sources before publication, warning that misinformation could erode public trust.
“In a world where misinformation spreads faster than truth, accuracy is the bedrock of trust, and trust is the foundation of transformation,” he said.
He further encouraged journalists to resist sensationalism and prioritise public interest, fairness and balance in their reporting.
Bono journalists honoured
Joy News correspondent for the Bono Region, Precious Semevoh, was adjudged the Best Journalist in Climate Change and Green Transition Reporting.
The overall Bono Regional Best Journalist of the Year 2025 award went to Lawrence Yeboah Gyan of Wisdom FM for his work in children’s advocacy, health and medical care.
