Media urged to change people's minds towards development

Tamale, October 26, , GNA - Mr Ernest Debrah, Northern Regional Minister has urged the media to use their medium to reshape the minds of the people towards development as in the same way they agitated against colonialism, human rights abuses and the recent fighting against corruption in the country.

He said the agitation for development as well as calming the nerves of people in conflict situations to bring lasting peace should be the concerned for the media now.

Mr Debrah was speaking at the first anniversary of the "Diamond FM", a local radio station in Tamale on Saturday.

The "Diamond FM", which was the first private radio station to be set-up in the Tamale Metropolis started broadcasting in October last year.

The radio station, however, suffered a setback when its equipment, except the transmitter was burnt down in fire outbreak last January but managed to come back on air within two weeks time. Mr Debrah said the government has scratched the criminal libel law from the statutory books to allow the media to carry out their duties without fear of intimidation.

He, however, cautioned that they must learn "to do unto others what they want others to do unto them".

Mr Debrah said: " one morning I was watching the 'Breakfast Show' on GTV and I saw a journalist who was alleged to have received bribe banged his hand on the table and said "this is seer wickedness" I have not received any bribe".

I laughed at him and said let us attach responsibilities to our jobs, especially what we write or air to the public and also knowing our limits about what we say or write", he added.

Mr Debrah commended journalists in the region for their accurate reportage on the Dagbon crisis saying "but for them, the peace we are enjoying now would not have been possible".

Mr Edward Ameyibor, General Manager of "Diamond FM", said "Diamond" intended to improve on its coverage to reach the whole region as well as the Upper East and Upper West Regions to involve the people in participatory governance at the grass-roots level to give voice to the voiceless.

He said "Diamond" had established links with "JOY FM", a local radio station in Accra, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), and the Ghana AIDS Commission aimed at improving the quality of its programmes to the public.

Mr Ameyibor apologized to people his outfit might have wronged in the cause of their duties, saying " it is never our intention to do so but that certain times people toes could be stepped on innocently."

He commended the people of the Metropolis for the goodwill showed to "Diamond" when its equipment was burnt and urged them to continue to support the it to grow to become the best FM station in the country.

Mr Debrah later inaugurated a-seven-member executive for the "Diamond" Fun Club and advised them to look at the achievement of "Diamond" and try to emulate it by showing love and opening up to one another.