The Upper East Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Sore, has called on journalists to deepen investigative reporting into water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) challenges in healthcare facilities to help promote safe motherhood and improve the quality of healthcare delivery.
According to him, journalists must move beyond simply reporting the lack of water, toilets and other essential sanitation facilities and probe the underlying causes of such challenges, identify responsible authorities and examine how the deficiencies affect patients and healthcare workers.
Chairman Sore made the call at the launch of the 5th Upper East Regional GJA Media Awards at the Ghana Health Service In-Service Training Centre in Bolgatanga.
The awards, scheduled for October 2, 2026, are being held under the theme: “Beyond the Headlines: The Media’s Role in Promoting WASH for Safe Motherhood and Quality Healthcare.”
He said the choice of the theme was informed by the critical connection between WASH and healthcare, particularly for pregnant women, mothers and newborns.
Chairman Sore cautioned against treating WASH as merely a routine development concern, stressing that access to clean water, adequate sanitation and proper hygiene could have direct implications for people’s health, dignity and survival.
He urged journalists to pursue WASH-related stories beyond their initial publication by following up with relevant duty-bearers and demanding answers on measures being taken to address identified problems.
“We must investigate. We must ask questions, follow up and find out what is being done and what more needs to be done,” he said.
The GJA chairman further encouraged journalists to place greater emphasis on the human consequences of poor WASH conditions in healthcare facilities.
He noted that inadequate water and sanitation services could increase the burden on already overstretched health workers while exposing mothers and newborns to avoidable health risks.
He said journalists should therefore give affected communities a voice by documenting their experiences and using evidence-based reporting to push authorities towards practical and sustainable solutions.
Mr. Sore explained that the theme for this year’s awards was deliberately aligned with WaterAid Ghana’s “Time to Deliver” campaign, which seeks to accelerate improvements in WASH services in healthcare facilities.
He acknowledged WaterAid Ghana’s contribution to the Upper East Regional GJA Awards, noting that the organisation had supported the awards for the past three editions through its SHARE Project.
He expressed appreciation for the partnership and encouraged journalists to use the awards theme as an opportunity to produce impactful journalism capable of influencing policy, shaping public discourse and triggering action.
Beyond the focus on WASH, Mr. Sore said the regional awards were designed to celebrate journalists whose work had made meaningful contributions to development in the Upper East Region and Ghana.
He identified MyTurn Limited and Lesken Enterprise Limited as lead sponsors for this year’s event, while Kacstone Records and the Paga Youth Movement are supporting the ceremony as main sponsors.
The Regional GJA Chairman appealed to corporate organisations, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), Members of Parliament, development organisations, traditional authorities and individuals to support the awards.
He said additional support would enable the Association to provide more meaningful prizes, including cash and equipment, to journalists whose work demonstrates excellence, professionalism and measurable public impact.
Mr. Sore stressed that supporting the GJA Awards should be viewed not simply as sponsorship of an event but as an investment in professional journalism, accountability and sustainable development in the Upper East Region.
He urged journalists to use the awards as an opportunity to renew their commitment to journalism that informs the public, investigates societal challenges, amplifies the voices of affected communities and holds duty-bearers accountable for delivering solutions.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com