By Godfred A. Polkuu
Bolgatanga, Sept. 15, GNA – The National Media Commission (NMC), has called on media practitioners in the Upper East Region to cooperate with the Regional Media Advisory Committee (RMAC) to check infractions and unprofessional reportage.
The Commission noted that the work of the RMAC was sacrificial and if journalists effectively cooperated with the Committee, the Region would derive lots of benefits from it, including peace and harmony.
The NMC made the call through its Chairman, Mr. Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, at the inauguration of the RMAC for the Region in Bolgatanga, with support from the Ministry of Finance.
The nine-member RMAC, chaired by Mr. Robert Ajene, a retired educationist, included Sir Alfred Ndago, a retired educationist; Mr. Robert Bob Tater, legal practitioner; Dr Helen Akolgo-Azupogo, lecturer; and Right Reverend Dennis Dabukari Tong, the Anglican Bishop of Tamale Diocese.
The rest are Madam Ellen Gandaa, a Public Relations Practitioner; Mr. Pascal Ayarik, Businessman; Mr. Clement Minyila, the Manager of Communications at the Navrongo Health Research Centre and Mr. Godfred Aaneamenga Polkuu, a journalist, with the Ghana News Agency.
Mr Boadu-Ayeboafoh cautioned media practitioners to be extremely circumspect in the way they conducted interviews and the reportage they churned out in the public domain.
He said professionalism would court public admiration if journalists consistently adhered to the basic ethics and stressed that even if they erred in their line of duty, members of the public would be willing to forgive them.
He appealed to the media to genuinely support the Committee in the discharge of its mandate, “It is only when the media do this, that peace can prevail in the Region, and you would have been contributing to sustaining our democracy.”
The NMC Chairman acknowledged that the work of the RMAC was sacrificial, saying “We cannot remunerate you, it is not possible. If through your interventions, the Upper East Region sees peace, that will be your contribution and that cannot be quantified.”
He said members of the Committee were distinguished individuals who were appreciated in the Region and could summon the people without difficulty, “So the Commission decided to put this group together and give them the responsibility, so that if there are any infractions in the media, they would drowse it before the Commission intervenes.”
Mr George Sarpong, the Executive Secretary of the NMC, said even though it was the commission’s desire to sustain the peace in the Region, there was the need for the media and other stakeholders to work together to advance it.
He said the Peace Council, traditional rulers, the Christian Council and Muslim groups among other stakeholders were doing their best to promote peace in the Region.
He, however, noted that the best they did could only be recognized by members of the public if the media supported and highlighted activities of the Committee in the Region, and indicated that if the media chose to stress only on the negatives in the Region, it would deter investors.
Mr. Ajene, on behalf of members of the RMAC, expressed gratitude to the NMC for the confidence reposed in them to work and gave the assurance that they would work tirelessly to support the media to be more professional in the discharge of their duties in the Region.
He admonished journalists to be more circumspect in their reportage and work professionally to maintain peace and sustain development in the Region.
GNA