Give fair reportage to all political parties- Akoto

Koforidua, Feb.4, GNA- The National Organizer of the Convention People's Party (CPP) Mr Kwasi Akoto has called on journalists to give balanced and fair reportage of the various political parties during the electioneering campaign.

He also advised them to portray issues affecting the daily activities of the citizenry.

Mr Akoto who was speaking at the end of year get-together of the Eastern regional branch of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) on Friday, noted that media headlines of late had always been that in favour of the President or the ex-vice President and this did not augur well in democracy.

He observed that, that trend of journalism was not helping the small parties to grow since they are not much heard and described it as "dangerous and not in conformity with democracy."

The Minister for Manpower and Employment and the MP for Koforidua, Mr Yaw Barimah, called on political parties to compete and co-operate in the coming election "so that in projecting our parties we become conscious of the fact that it's the combination of all factors that make Ghana".

He reminded public office holders of their primary responsibility of loyalty to Ghana and journalists of their role of informing and interpreting government policies in a matured way that do not inflame any passion.

He commended the journalists on their impressive role in the governance of the country but cautioned them against putting political parties above "Ghana" in their reportage.

The Omanhene of the New Juaben Traditional area Nana Prof. Emeritus Oti Boateng who chaired the function, stressed the need for journalists to help in projecting the Ghanaian culture, which according to him, "was losing focus".

He said every nation must move within its culture and cited an instance where children who were brought up in "cultural imperatives" become more committed and patriotic to the society in which they found themselves.

Daasebre Oti Boateng encouraged the journalists to be guided by the truth always in the discharge of their duty.