Let's build and free and responsible media - Affenyi-Dadzie

Assembly members, unit committees and chiefs asked to unite

Accra (Greater Accra), 5^th February 2000

Mrs Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie, President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), said on Friday that the building of a free and responsible media is a process and not something people should expect to be achieved in a day.

She said globalisation and the experience of many developed democracies have indicated that tolerance from the people and the ability of the media to accept criticism and undertake self-examination are the requirements for that free and responsible media.

Mrs. Affenyi-Dadzie said this at the opening of the first annual general meeting of the GJA in the 21st century.

She urged journalists and the media to be bold to undertake self-examination and self-criticism and make these the cornerstones of their development.

"We must be guided by the past, reflecting upon our successes and failures and resolving to attain greater heights this century through frequent evaluation of our performance."

Mrs. Affenyi-Dadzie urged all journalists to remain committed to the profession and engage in true information and education of the electorate on this year's election for them to make informed choices.

She urged members to be more investigative and analytical in their reportage as part of their contribution to ensure a clean campaign.

"Both past and recent experiences have shown that we must be wary of politicians who want to score cheap political points in their campaigns, making unsubstantiated allegations against opponents and later blaming journalists for misquoting them."

The GJA president also appealed to planners and organisers of functions and the public to enquire about the identity of journalists any time they have cause to be suspicious of their credentials.

She noted with concern that impostors are threatening to plague the operations of journalists.

"People who are not journalist flock assignments, pretending to cover and at the end of the function or event, raid the refreshment that is provided and, with a promise to give the best coverage, extort money from the organisers."

Mrs. Affenyi-Dadzie urged journalists not to let such people take advantage of them and the profession saying, "it is time to expose them."

Mrs Affenyi-Dadzie said as part of preparations towards fair coverage of this year's elections, the GJA plans to conduct seminars in all the regions on political reporting, with emphasis on election coverage.

This will be done in collaboration with the National Media Commission and the National Electoral Commission with sponsorship from Friedrich Ebert Foundation.

Two new executive members of the GJA were sworn-in by Mr. Justice Kwame Afreh, an Appeal court judge.

Miss Yaa Oforiwah Acquah of the Ghana News Agency as Treasurer and Mr Yaw Owusu-Addo of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation as vice-president.

Fraternal messages were sent to the association from the Private News Papers and Publishers Association, Ghana Bar Association, Friedrich Ebert Foundation, the German Embassy and British High Commission.

GRi

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Mr. Rexford Anokye, Afigya-Sekyere District Chief Executive, has asked traditional rulers, assembly members and unit committees in the Kwamang traditional area to team up to accelerate the pace of development in the district.

The DCE expressed his dissatisfaction with the lack of collaboration and harmony among these bodies, stressing that the trend did not augur well for growth and development.

Mr Anokye gave the advice when he visited Kwamang as part of his tour of the district to explain the government’s policies and the assembly's programmes.

Unit committee members must give due respect to the traditional rulers and recognise their authority by desisting from acts that could mar the relationship between them.

The traditional rulers must also reciprocate this by demonstrating recognition and acceptance of the roles of unit committees under the new local government structure.

On the forthcoming population and housing census, the DCE explained that the exercise was not meant for the purpose of taxation or elections, but for providing a more reliable statistical data for planning and development at national, regional and district levels.

Mr. Owusu Barfi Acheampong, assemblyman for Kwamang, appealed to the government to rehabilitate the Kwamang local authority primary school and extend electricity to the town.

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