Media practitioners should facilitate democratic process-NCCE

Dormaa-Ahenkro (B/A) May 2, GNA - Mr Amankwa Boateng, Dormaa Municipal Director of National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has called on media practitioners to provide equal opportunities for Ghanaians to participate in the nation's democratic process. He was speaking at a press briefing in Dormaa-Ahenkro to kick-start activities to commemorate this year's Constitution Week celebration on the theme: 93The State of Ghana's Democracy 96 Role of the Media."

The Municipal Director expressed worry about the growing tendency of some politicians to use the media to build personality cults, an enterprise which he said could only sway public attention and commitment from other vital areas of Ghana's young democracy. "Devoting the media particularly the air waves to partisan politics in relation to debilitating national issues of poor health, illiteracy, food insecurity and low levels of communal spirit in our communities is tantamount to partial neglect of our commitment to seeing our young democracy grow," Mr Boateng said. He reiterated that the media has the responsibility to contribute to good governance and accountability, participatory communication for development and cultural pluralism and this should not be offered to politicians alone.

Mr Boateng observed that media characteristics underpinning Ghana's public interest democracy implied that the media should provide a conducive environment for harmonisation of all sectors of the nation's economy for total growth. He urged the media to take interest in reporting issues on child rights and abuse, health, especially on drug abuse, education, agriculture and sanitation among other things and state clearly how these areas could reinforce one another in the over-all development process.

In this direction the media would succeed in giving voice to the marginalised in the society and arm them adequately to participate as active citizens to enrich the governance process. Mr Boateng also appealed to the media to endeavour to read and analyse the content of the 1992 Constitution to expose journalists to the knowledge required to deal efficiently with matters arising from the document.

He announced that the Municipal office of the NCCE with support from the Municipal Assembly would continue to embark upon civic education particularly on aspects of education, health, sanitation and human rights. 2 May 11