By Philip Tengzu
Wa, (UW/R), Oct. 15, GNA – The Upper West Regional branch of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has recommended strong collaboration between the media and the Municipal and District Assemblies (MDAs) in the region towards projecting investment opportunities.
The Association recognised that the region was endowed with many investment potentials and development opportunities, which had not been harnessed, partly due to limited media reportage on them.
Mr Prosper Kwame Kuorsoh, the Upper West Regional Chairman of the GJA, made the recommendation in Wa when he led a team of GJA members in the region to call on the Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Charles Lwanga Puozuing.
The team comprised of Mr Naziru Alhassan, the Secretary; Mr Ivan Awudu Domasaa, the Treasurer; Mr Suala Abdul-Wahab, immediate past Chairman; Mr Seidu Bomanjo, immediate past Vice-Chairman; Mr Emmanuel Mensah Abludo, a member and Mr Christopher Asiedu, a member.
The visit was to formally introduce the new regional GJA executives to the minister, congratulate him on his appointment as the Regional Minister and solicit the Regional Coordinating Council’s support to the association.
Mr Kuorsoh suggested that the MDAs should engage the media on the investment and development opportunities in their respective localities for the media to propagate and sell those opportunities to potential investors.
The Association also appealed for support to rehabilitate its office space in Wa and its upcoming awards ceremony for deserving and dedicated media personalities in the region.
The Regional GJA also requested a dedicated bus for the media use, especially during a President, Vice-President, a Minister or any high-profiled personality’s tour of the region.
Mr Kuorsoh observed that the media in the region was usually constrained in providing extensive coverage of such tours, especially outside of the regional capital, Wa, due to the limited means of transport.
Mr Charles Lwanga Puozuing, the Upper West Regional Minister, expressed gratitude to the Association and its leadership for the visit.
He assured them of his support to the Association in the region to rehabilitate the office, organise its awards ceremony and facilitate the works of the media, especially in critical times.
Mr Puozuing welcomed the proposal for the strong Media-Assemblies collaboration, and said it was part of his plans to regularly engage the media towards promoting the development of the region.
He advised the media to prioritise development-oriented reportage about the region saying, “The region can develop if the media says positive things about it.”
“Negative news sells but positive news develops communities. You are the core group here and we must collaborate to sell the region,” he added.
Mr Puozuing mentioned the bad road network and limited infrastructure as some issues the media should focus on.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Lydia Kukua Asamoah