By Ewoenam Kpodo
Ho, June 16, GNA- Mr James Gunu, the Volta Regional Minister, has commended media practitioners in the region for their responsible reportage, saying their coverage plays a direct role in maintaining national cohesion and safeguarding security.
He made the remarks Monday when a research team from the National College of Defence Studies (NCDS) in Accra paid a courtesy call on him at his office. The team is in the region to study the nexus between national cohesion, security and sustainable development.
According to the Minister, the media in Volta had distinguished themselves by avoiding sensationalism and divisive narratives.
He said: “Their coverage does not compromise the cohesion and security of the region. I must put it on record that we have no reckless media in this region.”
He noted that by prioritising facts and context, journalists helped prevent misunderstandings that could escalate into conflict and commended the media for playing its roles in protecting the region’s peace by not inflaming passions.
The Minister noted that besides the media’s roles, there were deliberate efforts by other institutions like traditional leaders, security agencies and local assemblies working together, insisting the region’s peace and unity was not accidental.
Mr Gunu also attributed the region’s peace to other factors like the culture of the people – festivals and language, and tolerance for intertribal marriages, responsible for his strong roots in Anlo, Avenor and Tongu tribes, for example.
He said: “Culture plays a key role in uniting our communities. During traditional festivals, there are rituals where if you have something against me, we forgive each other before we go to the celebration. So, the festival reminds us that we are together.
“Language differences can sometimes hinder communication and cohesion. When you are speaking a language that I don’t understand, I may think you are saying something about me. But we speak the same language – Ewe. Even though with different dialects, we understand ourselves.”
Brigadier General Eric Konadu, the Deputy Commandant of the NCDS, who led the team said the Volta Region was selected because it has largely sustained peace, with only minor pockets of chieftaincy issues.
He said the team would explore how cohesion had kept the Volta Region stable, benchmark the findings in the region with a team in the Ashanti Region, in addition to what would be found outside the country and translate those lessons into recommendations for the country to guide policy.
The National College of Defence Studies, situated in Burma Camp, Accra and established in 2023 is the highest professional military education institute in the country, running a Master of Science in Strategy programme under yearly selected themes, with this year’s theme being: “National Cohesion, Security and Sustainable Development.”
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Ewoenam Kpodo
Reporter’s email: [email protected]