Two community newspapers launched in Upper East Region

Bawku (U/E), Sept 15, GNA - The Institute of Adult Education (IAE) of the University of Ghana has launched a community newspaper in Kusaal language to cater for adult literacy learners in the Bawku East and Bawku West districts, where the language is widely spoken.

The four-page paper is part of the Institute's Mass Media Support Programme on Adult Population Education (MMSAPE) being undertaken in the Upper East, Upper West and Volta regions, with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Speaking at the launch in Bawku, Mr D. A. Yakubu, Bawku East District co-ordinating Director, emphasised the need for more of such local language newspapers, saying that they would help disseminate vital information to shape people's attitudes, opinions and impressions on national issues.

He said this would not only enhance national, regional and community development, but would also motivate the people to tackle their problems with a common sense of purpose. "At the threshold of the 21st century, information dissemination on population issues, health, education and how to improve on the socio-economic well-being of the masses would have to be broadened to include all sectors of the society," he said.

The Deputy Director of IAE, Mr John Barnor, who launched the papers, said the Institute, through its various outreach programmes, would continue to seek the wellbeing of the poor, who do not have access to mainstream mass media because of lack of formal education.

Mr Barnor, who is also the National Project Co-ordinator of MMSAPE, said the paper is non-political and non-religious, and urged adult learners to contribute articles to sustain its publication. Mr Charles Abimbe, Regent of Zawse, near Bawku, who presided, urged the IAE and its partners to establish more adult literacy schools in the area so that many people in the rural communities could benefit from the newspaper.

He appealed to community-based distributors of reproductive health services and adult learners to share the information contained in the paper with their families, clients and neighbours.

A similar ceremony was earlier held at Sandema in the Builsa district, where the IAE launched a community newspaper in Buli language for the benefit of local adult literacy learners. The institute currently publishes six other local language newspapers in Ewe, Akan, Dagare, Sissala, Gurune and Kasem.