UDS communication students launch magazine

That, he said, was because individuals, countries and institutions were taking their destiny in their hands as far as democracy, decentralisation and other significant changes around the globe were concerned.

Mr Folley Quaye emphasised the crucial role played by communicators in modern day development and called for the promulgation of the right policies to encourage effective planning and the implementation of communication programmes.

Known as the UDS communicator, the 28-page magazine sought to highlight some of the activities and programmes of the Department of African General Studies (DAGS) and the association.

"A development strategy that used communication approaches could reveal people's underlying attitudes, traditional wisdom and help people to adapt other views and to acquire new knowledge", Mr Folley said.

He attributed the failure of many projects and programmes introduced by the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDA)'s to the disregard of the inputs of communication practitioners throughout the project planning process.

Mr Folley Quaye, therefore, cautioned other staff of the assemblies to desist from arrogating to themselves the role of communicators saying, "People with the right skills, knowledge and specialties must be made to take charge of such tasks".

He said the planned usage of communication techniques, activities and media gave people powerful tools to experience change with the involvement of a large segment of the society.

The chairman for the occasion, Dr Africanus Diedong, commended the executives and members of the association for their achievement and said it would help in the sharing of ideas, discussions and the acquisition of the relevant communication skills.

He said the introduction of the magazine would enhance the creativity and research development skills of members of the DEVCOSA and advised members to contribute more articles to the next edition.

Dr Diedong who is also the head of department of the DAGS, advised the students not to indulge in trivialities but to inculcate the culture of teamwork and concentrate more on issues which would build their status as students of DEVCOSA.

The outgoing President of the DEVCOSA, Mr Hazrat Ashahadu, for his part expressed appreciation to members and lecturers of the department for their support in making the publication a success.

Story by Chris Nunoo