Asiedu Nketiah calls for better working conditions to strengthen journalism

National Democratic Congress leader Johnson Asiedu Nketiah has emphasized the need for better working conditions and institutional support for journalists to effectively carry out their watchdog role. Speaking at the 4th Bono Regional Ghana Journalists Association Awards, Nketiah stressed that the sustainability of journalism should be given the same importance as professional standards expected of journalists.

He argued that media organizations require adequate resources to hire and keep skilled journalists, conduct investigations and maintain strong regional newsrooms. Nketiah specifically stressed the importance of regional journalism, highlighting that issues affecting communities outside Accra may not receive sufficient attention in national discourse.

Nketiah also warned journalists against becoming financially dependent on politicians, businesses or institutions they are meant to scrutinize. He challenged journalists in the Bono Region to intensify their monitoring of public projects and expenditures and maintain accurate records of development activities.

The media archives, according to Nketiah, should serve as a resource years later to trace the progress of major development commitments. He urged journalists to document details like cost, contractors, timelines and terms of major projects, and later assess whether they were completed and whether citizens received value for money.

Nketiah stressed that government officials and politicians should expect scrutiny from the media, urging them to answer legitimate questions and have public expenditure examined. He also encouraged politicians to provide journalists with information for accurate reporting and to avoid interpreting difficult questions as hostility.

The awards ceremony, themed "Ethics, Integrity, and Impactful Journalism, Essential Ingredients for Societal Transformation," was attended by Vice Chancellor of the University of Energy and Natural Resources, Prof. Elvis Asare-Bediako. Prof. Asare-Bediako described journalism as a form of leadership that influences public thought, shapes civic behavior and inspires collective action.

He stressed the importance of verifying facts and sources before publication and warned that misinformation can erode public trust. Prof. Asare-Bediako also urged journalists to resist sensationalism, focus on public interest, fairness and balance, and remain "guardians of truth" and nation builders.