Media asked to demonstrate commitment to national development
Ms Helen Ajoa Ntoso, Eastern Regional Minister, has asked the media to demonstrate commitment to the development agenda of the country.
The media, she said had shifted from its core mandate as the voice of the voiceless to become so partisan that there is the need now for stakeholders in the industry to engage their attention to reverse the trend.
Ms Ntoso, who made the request in a speech read on her behalf, at a three day capacity building workshop for journalists and stringers of Ghana News Agency (GNA), said media practitioners should be responsible in the discharge of their duties.
The workshop is to build the capacity of the participants in the Eastern and Volta Regions on a media Auditing and Tracking of Developmental issues at the community and district levels to re-inforce the core mandate of the Agency.
The project being funded by Star-Ghana, a multi-donor pooled funding mechanism would be implemented in three districts each in the Eastern and Brong-Ahafo Regions including Birim Central, Kwahu-South and Upper-Manya
According to the Regional Minister, the media’s place as the fourth estate of the realm places an enormous challenge on its watchdog responsibility and therefore it is imperative for the personnel to discharge their duties with a high sense of responsibility and decorum for the good of the society.
She said instead of setting the national agenda to promote cohesion and development, the media is rather using its influence to erode the reputation and gains of individuals and institutions while poverty and the aspirations of the ordinary persons have been left uncovered.
Ms Ntoso made reference to the Constitution of Ghana Journalists Association that enjoins journalists to write and report the truth, bearing in mind the duty to serve the public interest and the public’s right to unbiased and accurate information.
She expressed confidence about the impact of the auditing and tracking project spearheaded by the GNA to help enhance the livelihood of the people.
Ms Ntoso noted that being the pacesetter in the media landscape, GNA would once again set the agenda for the much needed re-direction of the industry to reflect on national development.
Source: GNA