Former Upper East Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), William Jalular, has urged journalists not to lose hope in Ghana, emphasizing the vital role the media has to play in national development.
Mr. Jalular noted that journalists remain key to improving systems and enhancing service delivery across the country. Although he acknowledged that practicing critical journalism can be challenging and exhausting, he stressed that it is essential for strengthening institutions and promoting accountability.
Currently working with The Fourth Estate—a five-year-old investigative journalism project by the Media Foundation for West Africa, Mr. Jalular expressed confidence that sustained critical reporting can drive improved governance and transparency.
He observed that a section of the public appears to have become indifferent in the pursuit of accountability and improved governance. Despite this growing apathy, he encouraged journalists to remain steadfast and committed to their watchdog role.
Speaking on Thursday during the State of Our Nation programme, Mr. Jalular stressed the need for journalists to consistently scrutinize state institutions and demand accountability.
“The last group of people to give up on this country should be journalists. I have listed about five of the work that we have done and if for nothing at all, let’s say sole sourcing that there was so much backlash, when next they are going to do it, they will begin to say that let’s be careful. We should be critical about the state institutions and our government.”
