The 2025 Upper East Regional Journalist of the Year, Moses Apiah of A1 Radio, has urged members of the public to volunteer information to journalists to help expose challenges affecting communities and hold public institutions accountable.
According to him, journalists sometimes struggle to investigate important issues because individuals with relevant information are unwilling to speak, particularly on matters involving public institutions and the experiences of vulnerable people.
Speaking on Bolga FM’s Tinmaalgo Sanga programme, Mr Apiah said effective journalism depended partly on the willingness of citizens to share information about issues requiring public attention.
“If we are not ready to voluntarily provide information, I as a journalist will not be able to do my work as expected,” he said.
He explained that information provided by community members could help journalists uncover problems, investigate their causes and draw the attention of relevant authorities to them.
Mr Apiah encouraged the public to develop confidence in journalists, stressing that professional journalism required the protection of confidential sources where necessary.
He maintained that the purpose of investigative and public-interest reporting was not to harm individuals who volunteered information but to promote accountability and contribute to addressing societal challenges.
Beyond public cooperation, the award-winning journalist called on media organisations in the Upper East Region to invest more in the professional development of their staff.
He expressed concern that some journalists were unable to participate in training programmes because their media organisations lacked sufficient personnel to cover their duties in their absence.
“Media houses in the Upper East Region, actually, they need to wake up. They need to begin training,” he said.
Mr Apiah argued that media organisations did not necessarily need to engage international experts to improve the skills of their journalists.
Instead, he suggested that they collaborate with experienced Ghanaian journalists and relevant institutions to organise regular, practical training sessions.
According to him, continuous professional development would help journalists strengthen their reporting skills and produce more accurate, balanced and impactful stories.
He also appealed to political leaders and other stakeholders to support media practitioners with essential working equipment.
Mr Apiah acknowledged recent assistance provided to journalists by the Upper East parliamentary caucus but said more support was needed to address the logistical challenges facing media practitioners.
He identified laptops and other reporting equipment as some of the resources that could improve journalists’ ability to gather information, conduct investigations and produce quality reports.
The journalist further encouraged his colleagues to give greater attention to advocacy and solutions journalism, particularly stories highlighting the experiences of underserved communities.
He said journalists should not limit their reporting to identifying problems but should also examine initiatives being undertaken by individuals, communities and organisations to address those challenges.
According to him, such reporting could draw attention to practical interventions, encourage public participation and inspire similar efforts elsewhere.
“If we keep doing that, then we are telling a story, a positive story, we are telling an advocacy story, we are telling a solution story,” he said.
Mr Apiah maintained that stronger public cooperation, continuous training and improved access to working tools were essential to strengthening journalism and promoting accountability in the Upper East Region.
A1 Radio | 101.1 MHz | Moses Anaba Azubire | Bolgatanga
