Nangodi Chief asks journalists not to jeopardise national stability

Naab Kosom Asaga Yelzoya II, Paramount Chief of Nangodi, has cautioned media practitioners to go strictly by the tenets of their profession and cease using their platforms to jeopardise the peace prevailing in the country.

He said the expanded media frontiers should not be a guarantee for media practitioners to destabilise the society with statements that inflame passions.

The Paramount Chief made the call during the inauguration of Life-Word Radio, a community based radio station operating in Nangodi in the Nabdam District of the Upper East Region.

The inaugural ceremony was christened: “The role of the media in nation building.”

The station was founded by the Bible Baptist Association of America with support from the district assembly and Nangodi Traditional Council, and would be used to advance the development of the area.

Naba Asaga Yelzoya asked the media to focus on the critical role they play as gate keepers by holding government and duty bearers accountable.

This, he said could be achieved if practitioners take the onerous task of practicing journalism with tact and a sense of responsibility devoid of derogatory remarks and biases in their reportage.

“Broadcasters have deviated from the tenets of the journalism profession by using their media outlets to host personalities including social commentators who use deriding, intemperate and abusive words during programmes,” he said.

Madam Vivian Anafo, District Chief Executive expressed appreciation to the Baptist Church for the establishment of the radio station as it would provide a common platform for the sharing of ideas on developmental issues and matters of good governance.

She indicated that the role of the media in local and national development could not be undermined in contemporary governance and behooves practitioners as the fourth estate of the realm to be guided by the canons of journalism in their practice.

The radio station, she said should be the centre of the district’s development pursuit in the area of education, health, sanitation, agriculture, culture amongst others.

She said the greatest legacy a society could give to its youth is the creation of opportunities for learning and active participation in the district’s quest to develop.