Minister appeals to journalists to be ethical

Cape Coast, July 23, GNA - The Minister of Information, Mr. John Tia Akologo, has appealed to journalists to desist from over sensationalism and exaggeration and said these were unethical practices of journalism.

He said journalists should observe the ethics of the profession and disassociate themselves from partisan politics.

"Desist from hiding behind 91freedom of expression' to distort facts and stop tarnishing the hard won reputation of people," Mr Akologu said at a "Meet the Press" programme organised by the Central Region at Cape Coast.

He urged journalists to publish the truth in order not to create panic and unrest among the public adding that they could contribute to the accelerated development of the country through good and educative reportage.

"Journalists should not provide information that will bring destruction and general hurt" he added that they should take into consideration the reputation and the human rights of others.

The Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyiwa Doe, said an agreement had been signed for the construction of a $4,000,000 60-bed capacity hospital with accompanying bungalows and flats at Twifo-Praso in the Twifo-Hemang-Lower Denkyira District.

She said a total of 157,000 doses of vaccines were received for the immunization of an estimated 8% of the region's population aged between 18 and 60 years against the H1N1 influenza and that no deaths were recorded.

In the area of education, the Minister said the region received GH¢873,152.40 as capitation grant in the 2009/2010 academic year.

It also received 4,154,000 exercise books as well as 53,310 school uniforms for pupils in the region for free, with enrolment for the school feeding programme being 44,756 pupils.

Mrs Benyiwa Doe said 212 classrooms were constructed in 2009 for schools that were operating under trees and that 65 six-unit classroom blocks were being constructed to replace schools still operating under trees at a total contract sum of GH¢9,100,000.00.

She said 46 number six-unit classroom blocks with ancillary facilities were also being constructed for Senior High Schools for use in the next academic year at a total contract sum of GH¢12,067,342.

On water and sanitation in the region, Mrs Benyiwa Doe said she was worried about the activities of illegal miners.

She said their activities were affecting safe drinking water and had contributed to high production cost of water treatment.

Mrs Benyiwa Doe said there are on-going projects, including Government of Ghana projects to provide safe drinking water for the region.

The Minister described the region as the 93tourism heartbeat of the nation" and said that the Central Region Development Commission (CEDECOM) had strategized to make it more attractive and it will soon become the preferred destination for tourists. GNA