Cape Coast, Feb. 1, GNA- The Deputy Minister of Information, Mr Samu= el Okudzeto Ablakwa, on Saturday, assured Ghanaians that the government woul= d continue to create a congenial atmosphere to promote the rule of law and ensure total press freedom. He gave the assurance that 'the Right to Information Bill' would soo= n be rolled out, and advised journalists to be truthful and ensure balanced=
reporting when the Bill it comes into force.
Mr Ablakwa, who gave the assurance at the launch of "The Central Pre= ss" newspaper in Cape Coast, noted that, the newspaper would allow the Centra= l Region to set its own agenda to help facilitate attitudinal change amongs= t the people and also accelerate the development of the region. He advised the management of the paper to consider the development o= f the region paramount and not to make profits their cardinal objective. The Mayor of Cape Coast, Mr Anthony Egyir Aikins noted that, the rol= e of the media in all sectors of national development was crucial and that relevant information accelerates the pace of national growth and urged journalists to be circumspect, objective and level- headed to protect the=
country's democracy.
He advised journalists to stop castigating and tarnishing the image and reputation of institutional and public heads and rather adhere to the eth= ics of journalism so that "we can enjoy a problem -free society devoid of rancour, prejudice and animosity towards one another". Mr Aikins implored the National Media Commission (NMC) and the Ghana=
Journalists Association (GJA) to be proactive and sanction media houses t= hat abuse press freedom, particularly those who publish obscene pictures. The Central Regional Minister Mrs Ama Benyiwa- Doe advised the editorial team of the Central Press to ensure that its field staff is wel= l trained, and that they should produce credible and balanced articles that=
are developmental oriented, devoid of politicking with every issue. She also called on them to highlight challenges on the environment, climate change and human trafficking among others in order to draw the attention of the public and the government on its implications. The Omanhen of the Mankessim Traditional Area, Osagyefo Amanfo Edu V= I, who spoke on the theme "the role of journalists in nation building", stressed that the media should avoid conflicting personal interests with national ones and advised that it should rather play an advocacy role between the government and the opposition on one hand and the public on t= he other.
He suggested that the editorial team should create a traditional col= umn where views will be solicited from traditional leaders on developmental issues in their areas and the country at large. For his part, the Regional Chairman of the GJA, Mr Ebo Sackey re-ech= oed calls that the Central Press should be made a regional newspaper to help identify developmental challenges for them to be dealt with expeditiously=
hoping that it will also encourage reading among the young ones in the region. The paramount chief of the Anomabo Traditional area, Nana Aggrey I, who launched the newspaper, said it has come as a big relief to the region as= it will be its mouthpiece, adding that, democracy without economic growth is=
just "empty talk".
Mr Kwamina Bamfo- Agyei, editor of the Central Press Newspaper said it is a 12- page paper that will come out fortnightly to highlight a wide ra= nge of issues in the Central Region and country as a whole, adding that, huma= n interest stories will feature prominently. He said the public have the right to truthful, unbiased, accurate, balanced and comprehensive information and pledged that journalists of th= e paper will not accept any form of inducement or bribe in the performance of their duties.
