Western North Media Disappointed as Chiefs, Regional Minister and MMDCEs Snub Local Media During Crucial Courtesy Call on President Mahama

By EyeonWesternNorth | Sefwi Asawinso – Tuesday, October 14, 2026

Local media houses in the Western North Region have expressed deep disappointment and anger over what they describe as a deliberate snub by the Western North Regional House of Chiefs, the Regional Minister, and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) during their highly publicized courtesy call on President John Dramani Mahama at the Jubilee House.

According to findings by EyeonWesternNorth, not a single representative from the vibrant media landscape in Western North was included in the delegation that traveled to Accra on Monday, October 13, 2026, to discuss critical regional issues including youth unemployment, galamsey, and development projects.

“Our Leaders Do Not Respect Us”

The media fraternity in the region says the action is not only disheartening but also a clear display of disrespect for the credibility and indispensable role the local media play in regional development.

Speaking to EyeonWesternnorth on condition of anonymity, several journalists, radio presenters, online bloggers and station managers said they felt betrayed and sidelined.

“We play a very important role in this region. We are the ones who project the activities of the House of Chiefs, the Regional Coordinating Council, and the Assemblies every day. We hype their events for free. Yet when they go to meet the President of Ghana on behalf of all of us, they forget us,” one senior journalist in Bibiani lamented.

Another media practitioner from Sefwi Wiawso added: “At least one representative from the media houses across the nine constituencies would not have let hell fall. They could have taken one reporter from Radio, one from online portals. Is it too much to ask?”

EyeonWesternNorth Findings

Investigations conducted by EyeonWesternnorth across the nine constituencies – Sefwi Wiawso, Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai, Juaboso, Bodi, Akontombra, Sefwi Akontombra, Bia East, Bia West and Aowin – revealed a unanimous feeling of neglect among media owners and practitioners.

Our findings discovered that:, No official invitation was extended to any local media house to cover the courtesy call as part of the delegation, The Regional House of Chiefs, led by Ɔgyeahɔhoɔ Nana Yaw Gyebi II, and the political leadership failed to recognize the media as a key stakeholder in the region’s governance and development discourse, This attempt, according to media players, shows that traditional and political leadership in the region do not respect the credibility and the important role the media play in shaping public opinion, projecting the region, and holding leaders accountable.

“Look at how other Regions do it. When Ashanti or Eastern Region Chiefs go to the Presidency, they go with their local media. They carry Garden City TV, Ash FM, etc. Why is Western North always different? We are always sidelining our own,”.

The Role of Western North Media

Media practitioners argue that Western North Region, being the youngest region created in 2019, needs aggressive media projection more than any other region.

From highlighting the effects of galamsey on water bodies like the Bia and Tano Rivers, to exposing bad roads, school infrastructure deficits, and youth unemployment, local media houses have been at the forefront of advocacy for the region.

“When there is galamsey fight, they call us to come and cover. When they commission projects, they call us to come and cover for free. But when it comes to an important national engagement where we can also build our contacts and capacity, we are forgotten. It is painful,” an online news publisher in Dadieso noted.

Call for Apology and Change

The media practitioners are calling on the President of the Western North Regional House of Chiefs, the Western North Regional Minister, and all nine MMDCEs to as a matter of urgency render an apology to the media fraternity and take steps to ensure such snub does not repeat itself in the future.

They argue that inclusive governance must include the media, and that any meeting with the President that discusses the fate of Western North must necessarily have a media component.

“Going forward, we expect leadership to know that the media is not an afterthought. We are partners in development. Without us, who will tell the stories of the good works they claim to be doing?” they concluded.

Efforts to reach the Western North Regional Coordinating Council and the leadership of the House of Chiefs for comment on the matter were unsuccessful as of press time.

Filed by Berima Kantinka