Mr. Mark Woyongo, the Upper East Regional Minister, has appealed to journalists working in the three northern regions to promote the development agenda of the area instead of reporting on negative issues.
Mr Woyongo, who spoke at the launch of the Northern Journalists Awards, said as journalists should focus on development issues instead of allowing themselves to become instruments of blackmailing, intimidation and causing confusion.
He said as media practitioners working in the area, they had a crucial role to play to reduce the poverty level in the area.
The Regional Minister said the theme for the occasion which was "The Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA),-A Tool for Northern
Development, the Role of the Northern Journalist" was apt and urged the media to promoting and propagate the ideals of SADA.
Mr. Eric Kojo Amoh, the Upper East Regional Chairman of the GJA, appealed to journalists to abide by the ethics of the profession.