Brong Ahafo needs advocacy group to change media landscape

Sunyani (B/A), Aug. 23, GNA - A former Minister of State, at the weekend called for the formation of a strong advocacy group to help change the media landscape in the Brong Ahafo Region to reflect the sober character of the people.

Mr. Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, a former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development in the erstwhile New Patriotic Party administration, condemned the use of indecent language on some FM radio stations in the Region.

He was speaking at the launch of the Honesty Youth Organisation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), formed by students of second cycle and tertiary educational institutions in the Region, to help the youth to become disciplined, responsible and accountable, in Sunyani. A mock Parliament was held during which 14 youth including three females demonstrated their prowess as future politicians in a discussion on: 93Homosexuality and Lesbianism in Ghana." Mr Adjei-Darko commended the students for forming the NGO to help transform the conduct of the youth, and said 93indiscipline exhibited by some young people is far from the sober character of people of the Region". He criticized the current decentralization process in the country, saying 93it exists on paper without its actual impact being felt under the Metropolitan-Municipal-District Assembly Concept." Mr. Adjei-Darko noted that by the concept, power had been vested in Assembly Members and not in the Metropolitan, Municipal or District Chief Executives but this appeared to be the reverse. He said some of the assemblies were being controlled by the Chief Executives, and cautioned that if the trend was not changed 93the assemblies would continue to be controlled by politicians instead of the assemblies controlling politicians." Mr. Adjei-Darko said the lack of knowledge on the part of some Assembly Members about the implementation of the concept made them to stoop low to the Chief Executives in the execution of projects in the electoral areas.

He called on the NGO to ensure proper sanitary practices in the communities and cautioned the group against politicisation of its activities.

Mr. Ishau Abdul Mohammed, Chief Executive Officer of the NGO, said the group would create a platform for the youth to express their views on topical national issues.

He said the Youth Parliament wing of the NGO would educate young people on the need to tolerate the views of their opponents, and help them to acquire leadership qualities and to understand the operations of Parliament.

Mr. Roland Baba Nambo, Sunyani Municipal Director of National Commission on Civic Education, tasked the NGO to work hard to achieve its objective of improving the welfare of the youth.