Journalists cautioned against abusing opportunities

Colonel M’bawine Atintande (Rtd), former Director of Public Affairs of Ghana Armed Forces, has caution journalists against abusing the opportunities they have for exposing certain information that are not available to the public.

He also reminded journalists of the powerful tool they have, which he said must be used for the good of the society.

Col Atintande made the comment when he addressed members of the Presidential Press Corps at a retreat at the Bunso Arboretum in the Eastern Region.

The two-day retreat which is on the theme: “Clean environment and tourism, the role of the Presidential Press,” was organised by executives of the Presidential Press Corps for members to take some time off their hectic assignments to refresh themselves away from the normal routine.

Col Atintande stated that it is important for journalists to acquire more knowledge however this cannot be done by just sitting at one place.

He said as members of the Presidential Press Corps who travels with the President to many places they have knowledge of certain things that many ordinary people would not know, adding that they could use these opportunities available to them to bring out more information about things that would benefit the people.

He said as members of the Presidential Press they should know how the presidency works, studying personality traits as well as the structure and communication flow at the place.

“Seeing your job as members of the Presidential Press Corps should not just be a normal thing that we just go to do but must be professional,” he said.

Mr George-Ramsey Benamba, Dean of the Presidential Press Corps stated that as journalists they spend time projecting others and their health issues without even taken care of their own health and environmental needs.

He said the retreat was to move members away from what they are used to doing since stress have been instrumental in the death of many people.

He said the event was also a good opportunity to learn and to refresh their minds away from the normal routine.

Mr Benamba also stated that it is about time that journalists find some little time to refresh themselves and the retreat is just one of the steps being taken to ensure that every member get some break despite the heavy load of work they have ahead.

He said trip is one of the measures the Press Corps has taken is to restrategise for more work in the coming days.

Mr Baffour Peprah, the Site Manager of the Bunso Arboretum who welcomed the Presidential Press Corps and explained that management intends to expand the facility by putting in place a gym, a swimming pool, computer game centre for children and a gift shop.

He said although the facility has a bar and a restaurant they are not enough considering the number of people that patronise the place.

“We want to put all this things in place so that when people come here it would be a home away from home,” he added.