GJA must make capacity building a Priority from 2027 – Laryea Sowah

Kenteman Nii Laryea Sowah, a veteran journalist and former Executive Secretary for Prinpag, has urged the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to prioritize capacity-building programs for young journalists and online publishers to elevate professional and ethical standards within Ghana's media industry. During the GJA commemoration held on Monday, November 2, 2026, Mr. Sowah expressed concern over the quality of certain online publications, specifically the prevalent use of overly lengthy sentences instead of well-structured headlines.

In his address, Mr. Laryea highlighted the impact of technological advancements on the media landscape, emphasizing that practitioners should not allow the proliferation of new media to compromise the integrity of professional journalism. He questioned the standard of some online stories, noting that it was often challenging to differentiate between headlines and complete sentences.

"Sometimes you will read online publications and you will question yourself whether the subject matter under discussion is the headline or sentences," he remarked.

Furthermore, Mr. Sowah stressed the importance for young journalists to comprehend the distinctions between news stories and feature articles, as well as the significance of proper sentence construction, paragraphing, and professional writing. The journalist appealed to the GJA to make capacity-building a top priority starting from 2027, particularly targeting emerging journalists and online publishers.

Additionally, he encouraged experienced media practitioners to mentor younger professionals, emphasizing that they represent the future of the industry.