Don't use radio stations to inflame passion for the run-off - Imoro

Tamale, Dec. 20, GNA - Mr Alhassan Imoro, a veteran journalist, has cautioned leaders of the two major political parties not to use radio stations in the Northern Region to settle their differences since that could inflame passions for the December 28, presidential run-off. He, therefore, advised party leaders to share useful ideas during radio discussions that would promote unity, peace and development of the north to ensure that poverty, hunger and disease were addressed.

Mr Imoro gave the advice in Tamale on Saturday at a day's sensitization workshop for radio presenters, political party youth leaders and "serial callers" (chronic callers of radio stations). The aim was to educate participants on the need for peaceful, free and fair presidential run-off and also to update the knowledge and skills of radio presenters on how to conduct interviews, monitor and handle phone-in callers to promote unity.

Forty participants attended the workshop on the theme: "The use of radio to promote peace and political tolerance before, during and after the December 28 run-off."

The Rural Media Network (RUMNET), a Tamale based Non Governmental organisation organised the workshop with sponsorship from the United Nations Development Programmes (UNDP).

Mr Imoro, who is also the Executive Director of RUMNET, said some callers into live radio programmes often made allegations that they could not substantiate and observed that these things happened at times without radio presenters correcting them.

He said the praises that Ghana had received from the international community for peaceful first round election must be protected and justified through a higher successful December 28, 2008 presidential run-off.

Mr Imoro appealed to radio stations to pay particular attention to the phone-ins and the activities of serial callers saying, "Radio stations should be mindful of the election and ensure that their actions do not mar the December 28 poll."

The political youth leaders pledged to tolerate each others' views both on the airwaves and on platforms to foster unity, peace and development.

They also commended RUMNET for bringing them together especially the NDC and the NPP, who are political rivals.