Use mediums to promote peace, unity - E/R Minister urges journalists

The Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Kwame Acheampong, has asked journalists in the region to use their mediums to promote peace and unity before, during and after the December 7 general election.

That, he said, was because the populace listened and acted on any information channeled through their mediums.

Mr Acheampong, who is also the Chairman of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), made the call when members of the council interacted with journalists in Koforidua last Friday.

The meeting was to see how best the various mediums would channel information that would ensure that the upcoming general election would not lead to misunderstandings, chaos or violence.

Emerging tensions

Mr Acheampong said looking at the emerging tensions as the country headed to the polls, REGSEC was interacting with stakeholders, especially the media, to help make the elections peaceful by channeling information devoid of animosity and other negative tendencies that could spark misunderstandings, chaos and eventually anarchy before, during and after the elections.

"We have already met other stakeholders and identifiable groups such as Muslim and Christian leaders as well as traditional rulers who can persuade their followers or people not to do anything that will mar the peaceful nature of the elections.

The Regional Minister said Ghana had been recognised as one of the best democratic states in Africa.

"Ghana has been recognised as one of the best democratic states in Africa and also seen by the comity of nations in the world, and therefore we should not do anything that will disturb the peaceful nature of the elections", he indicated.

Promote unity

For his part, the Eastern Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Maxwell Kudekor, appealed to journalists to at all times cross check any information with respect to the elections before putting it in the public domain.

He also called on journalists to go by the ethics, rules and regulations of journalism in the conduct of the elections in their reportage.

Writer's email: haruna.wunpini@graphic.com.gh