Journalists urged to report more on developmental issues

Bolgatanga, Aug. 5, GNA- Journalists have been urged to focus more on developmental reportage instead of paying too much premium on political issues.

They have also been asked to draw the attention of politicians and government agencies to developmental issues affecting the people. Mr. Alhassan Imoro, Media Director of the Rural Media Network, made the call when he presented a paper on " Civic Journalism and Reporting; the Key in Promoting Participation in Governance and Development", at a-three-day workshop on decentralization and media. The event that was organized by the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS) and sponsored by the German Development Service (DED) in Bolgatanga, on Tuesday was attended by journalists and officials of district assemblies in the Upper East Region. It was aimed at strengthening the roles and responsibilities of the media and civil society organizations in advocacy and to promote their participation in local governance. Mr. Imoro called on the media to do in-depth research and follow-up to stories on issues affecting the people, especially those in the rural areas.

The Deputy Director of ILGS in charge of the Northern Region, Dr Callistus Mahama, asked participants to put into practice the knowledge and experience acquired at the workshop. Participants underscored the need for district assemblies to collaborate with the media to champion the development of the people. They expressed worry about the situation where majority of the Assemblies refused to provide Journalists with the needed information to discharge their duties and appealed to them to desist from that act since it does not help in encouraging participation in local Governance.