Minister appeals to journalists

Sunyani, Jan. 15, GNA - Mr. Kwadwo Adjei Darko, Minister of State, Office of the President, at the weekend appealed to media practitioners to be guided by national objectives rather than by political inclinations.

He said the nation's development, to a very large extent, rested on how objective the press executed its mandate towards the elimination or reduction of poverty and setting the agenda on other developmental challenges confronting the country.

Mr. Adjei-Darko, MP for Sunyani West, was speaking at a send-off party in Sunyani for Mr. Samuel Kyei-Boateng, former Brong-Ahafo Regional Editor of the Daily Graphic, on transfer to the Graphic Head Office on promotion as the Editor-in-Charge of the Regional Desk. The function was organized by the regional office of Graphic Communications Group Limited in collaboration with Brong-Ahafo Regional branch of the Ghana Journalists Association.

He called on journalists to maintain high professional standards and to eschew divisive and tribal tendencies that polarize the nation. Mr. Adjei-Darko called on media practitioners to venture into specialization to strengthen their agenda-setting role in national development and to make good use of the freedom of expression.

Nana Gyau Gyan III, Atipimhene of Berekum Traditional Area who presided, appealed to journalists to focus newspaper review segments on issues that would help to promote the region's socio-economic development.

He urged journalists to deepen their watchdog role and let responsible journalism be their hallmark.

Mr. Kwame Twumasi-Awuah, Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive, appealed to media practitioners to avoid using their medium to attack personalities but to tackle development problems in their communities. Mr. Charles Koomson, the Regional Manager of the Ghana News Agency and the Chairman of the Brong-Ahafo Branch of the Ghana Journalists Association, advised up and coming journalists to emulate Mr Kyei-Boaten.

Kyei-Boateng thanked all and sundry for their support and expressed the hope that it would goad him on to do much better in his new appointment.