Journalists particularly hosts of political programs on Radio and Television have been prevailed upon by the Paramount Chief of the Talensi Traditional Area Tongraana Naab Kugbilson Nalebegtang to guard against the use of their platforms to rain insults on duty bearers.

According to him, discussions on mass media platforms can be decorous with the guests on the program expressing their views and criticizing leadership without insulting them.

The revered traditional ruler who was a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Talensi Constituency was speaking at the first edition of the Upper East Ghana Journalists Association Awards held in Bolgatanga.

“Radio show programmes must be moderated in such a way that panellists are not given the free will to insult or use wrong dictions on citizens especially leaders of the Country. You must assert your authority on the programmes and discussions you lead. This way, there will be no room for insults and over-zealous persons to stir trouble or cause confusion. The media must work to avoid some of the bad experience we have experienced in the past,” he said.

He further noted that journalism and for that matter, the media in Ghana, form an integral part of the development scheme of the country and hence the need to build the capacity of journalists to enable them to discharge their duties professionally and under safe conditions.

He added that “I urge our journalists to be circumspect in their reportage especially as we draw closer to December 2020 elections”.

The First Upper East Regional Ghana Journalists Association Awards was held to recognize journalists and media practitioners in the region who have excelled in their areas of reportage while some distinguished personalities were honoured for their enormous contributions to the development of the region.