The launch, held at the Northern Regional Coordinating Council in Tamale, brought together media practitioners, government officials, development partners, civil society organisations and other stakeholders.

Speaking at the event, Hon. Adolf described the GJA Awards as an important platform for recognising excellence and strengthening professional journalism. He urged journalists to prioritise accuracy, fairness, balance and fact-checking amid growing concerns over misinformation and disinformation.

He said the media has an important role to play in helping young people access opportunities in the digital economy by providing practical information on digital skills, employment, entrepreneurship and government programmes.

The Minister cited initiatives including the One Million Coders Programme and the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy as opportunities for young Ghanaians to acquire skills for the changing digital economy.

Northern Regional GJA Chairman, Yakubu Abdul-Majeed, said the awards would recognise outstanding journalists and encourage young practitioners to pursue excellence. He also appealed for improved salaries and working conditions for journalists, particularly those in private media organisations.

The 2026 awards are themed “Empowering the Next Generation: The Role of the Media in Digital Skills, Innovation and Youth Opportunities.”

Hon. Adolf appealed to institutions and development partners to continue supporting the awards to promote ethical journalism, innovation, accountability and inclusive development in the Northern Region.