Journalists called to champion the course of the people

Sunyani (B/A), July 17, GNA - Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, has advised media practitioners to champion the course of the people by urging them to participate in decision-making process of the nation at the grass-root level.

Mr Baffour-Awuah was Speaking at the inauguration of the new executives of the Brong Ahafo Regional branch of Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) in Sunyani at the weekend.

He said they should do well to specialise in their various fields in the profession, as that would enhance their work as journalists and cautioned them against that would not bring unity among the people and development to the nation but chaos.

Mr Alfred Monney, National Vice-Chairman of GJA said plans were underway to revive all the regional branches of the Association to enhance members' activities in the regions.

He urged proprietors of radio stations to employ qualified personnel and also lamented over poor usage of the English language on radio stations by some media practitioners.

Speaking on the theme for the event, "The Media and Development", Nana Kofi Coomson, Publisher of "The Ghanaian Chronicle", who was the guest speaker, expressed concern about the level of negligence and absence of research among young media practitioners in the country. He challenged media practitioners to investigate, ask questions to find out the truth on matters of national interest before coming out with their publications.

Nana Coomson underscored the need for media practitioners to be more aggressive in fishing for information to help people to make informed choices, particularly during elections.

Swearing the newly executives into office, Justice L. L. Mensah, Supervising High Court Judge, advised media practitioners against industrial actions and to help to promote the growth of the country.

Mr Charles Koomson, Regional Manager of G hana News Agency, who was elected the new GJA Regional Chairman, thanked members of the Association for the confidence reposed in them and pledged to work harder to enhance the image of the Association. Mr Koomson condemned the practice of some media practitioners, who refused to verify the authenticity of information they receive before publication.

He pledged the readiness of the new executive to work to ensure that journalists in the region performed creditably to merit the profession's status as the Fourth Estate of the Realm. "We will ensure that media practitioners in the region to a large extent perform according to the ethics of the profession, since journalism was supposed to integrate the people, not to disintegrate them", Mr Koomson stressed.

The other new executives are Mrs. Rose Yankson of GNA, Vice Chairperson, Mr Samuel Duodu, Daily Graphic, Secretary, Mrs. Christiana Kumah, GBC, Treasurer, Mr Simon Yussif Kewura, The Chronicle and Mr Emmanuel Mensah Abludo, GBC, executive members.

Mr Leonard Amengor, Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of the Ghana Broadcasting Cooperation and the immediate past chairman of the association advised journalists to ensure fair reportage to avoid divisive tendencies among the general public.