Journalism is a calling, not just a profession – GJA President tells journalists

The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, has urged journalists to regard journalism as a calling that demands sacrifice, commitment and continuous professional development rather than merely a means of earning a living.

He said journalists must be willing to go beyond routine reporting, acquire specialised knowledge and demonstrate excellence in their work to make a meaningful impact on society.

Mr Dwumfour made the remarks at the Ghana Media Soirée 2026, hosted by the Ghana National Gas Company Limited (Ghana Gas), as part of efforts to engage media practitioners and strengthen their understanding of the company’s operations, particularly in the areas of gas, energy, health, safety and environmental sustainability.

Despite being indisposed, the GJA President said he considered his longstanding relationship with the association and Ghana Gas important enough to attend the event, underscoring his conviction that journalism requires sacrifice and dedication.

“This is why journalism is a calling, not merely a profession. It comes with sacrifices,” he said, adding that journalists who distinguish themselves through innovative and impactful work deserve recognition.

He explained that professional awards were intended to celebrate practitioners who went beyond routine assignments to produce exceptional work that contributed to national development.

Mr Dwumfour commended Ghana Gas for investing in the professional development of journalists, describing capacity-building initiatives as essential to strengthening media practice in an increasingly digital and information-driven world.

He noted that continuous professional development was consistent with the objectives of the GJA and the broader constitutional framework governing the media in Ghana.

According to him, journalists must continuously update their knowledge and skills to keep pace with emerging trends, technological developments and the growing challenges of misinformation and disinformation.

He also identified specialisation as a major gap in Ghana’s journalism practice, observing that many practitioners were expected to cover a wide range of subjects without the in-depth knowledge required for accurate and responsible reporting.

“Sometimes you find journalists in court, and you can tell this person lacks the ethics and doesn’t even understand the court because he got the reporting wrong. If you don’t take care, you may even end up with contempt,” he cautioned.

He said Ghana Gas’ initiative to equip journalists with specialised knowledge in gas and energy reporting was therefore commendable, particularly as the sector involves technical, environmental, health and safety issues that require accurate interpretation.

The GJA President challenged journalists who participated in the training to apply the knowledge acquired in their daily work and extend its benefits to colleagues who were unable to attend.

He advocated a “train-the-trainer” approach, under which participants would share relevant knowledge and skills with other journalists in their newsrooms.

According to him, such an approach would promote collective professional growth and ensure that specialised knowledge gained through training translated into improved newsroom output.

“Let the training we’ve had be seen in our work. Let it show in our reportage. Let it show in the discharge of our duty in serving the good people of this country,” he said.

He further reminded journalists that their professional responsibility included holding public institutions and policymakers accountable, regardless of whether those institutions supported their development.

Mr Dwumfour said the relationship between the media and corporate organisations must not compromise journalistic independence or ethical standards, stressing that journalists had a duty to scrutinise the policies and activities of institutions, including those that sponsored their training.

He urged participants to use their enhanced knowledge to promote transparency, accountability and responsible public discourse.

Mr Dwumfour reaffirmed the GJA’s commitment to supporting the continuous professional development of its members, disclosing plans for exchange programmes and partnerships with energy institutions to provide scholarships for journalists interested in specialising in energy reporting.

He described the proposed opportunities as professional development scholarships designed to strengthen the capacity of journalists covering the energy sector.

He also announced that the association had scholarship opportunities with universities, including the University of Wisconsin, while additional partnerships were being pursued.

According to him, eligible GJA members seeking to pursue undergraduate or master’s degrees in journalism and communication could obtain further information and application forms through the association’s General Secretary.

He said the opportunities were intended to enable journalists to upgrade their academic qualifications and professional competencies while benefiting from their membership of the association.

By Ebenezer Atiemo