Upper East GJA holds training workshop to boost journalists’ capacity in crime and court reporting
Upper East GJA trains journalists to strengthen crime and court reporting skills
The Upper East Regional chapter of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has organised a one-day training workshop for journalists in the region to strengthen their capacity in crime and court reporting.
The workshop, held on Monday, May 4, formed part of activities to commemorate World Press Freedom Day.
It aimed to equip journalists with the skills to report accurately, ethically, and responsibly on crime and judicial proceedings, while contributing to peacebuilding through balanced and informed reporting.
Held under the theme “Shaping a Future at Peace,” the training brought together journalists from across the region for practical sessions facilitated by the Upper East Regional Supervising High Court Judge, His Lordship Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu Gemadzi, and the Upper East Regional Director of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Lawyer Jaladeen Abdulai.
The facilitators took participants through key aspects of court processes, legal reporting standards, and the ethical considerations required when covering crime-related issues.
In an interview, the Upper East Regional Chairman of the GJA, Albert Sore, highlighted the need for the training, citing gaps in reportage within the region.
“As an association, we want our members to be able to cover diverse areas in their reporting. One of the gaps we have identified is that while there is significant focus on agriculture, environment, roads, and governance, crime and court reporting have not received the needed attention,” he said.
Sore expressed satisfaction with the level of participation and noted that the training had provided valuable insights that would enhance the work of journalists going forward.
Lawyer Jaladeen Abdulai who also spoke in the interview, underscored the critical role of the media in society, stressing the need for responsible journalism.
“The media plays a very important role in society. If we shut the door to the media space, it means we will be living in darkness. This engagement has equipped journalists with the knowledge needed to perform their duties responsibly,” he said.
Some participants also shared positive feedback, describing the workshop as enlightening and timely.
“This training has brought a lot of enlightenment to us in the media space. It will help us do our work properly, especially in understanding the processes to follow in reporting accurately without falling foul of the law,” one participant noted.
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