Cape coast: The Central Regional Chapter of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has expressed renewed commitment to catalyze change and development in the region. The Association has called upon the media in the region to unite and set an agenda for growth and development.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Kingsley Nana Buadu, Regional Chairman of the Association, expressed concern over the slow pace of development in the region and urged journalists to enhance their role as agents of change. He made these remarks during the chapter's maiden convention in Cape Coast, which brought together media practitioners, including journalists, presenters, program hosts, managers, and media owners, to discuss media welfare and the role of the media in transforming the Central Region.
The event also marked the commissioning of the GJA Central Regional office at the Pensioners' House in Cape Coast. It was attended by Mr. Ekow Panyin Okyere Eduamoah, the Central Regional Minister; Mr. George Justice Arthur, the Mayor of Cape Coast, along with heads of various institutions and traditional leaders. Mr. Buadu emphasized the need for journalists to control the narrative and prevent politicians from dictating the discourse, urging for accountability and development in the region.
Mr. Buadu raised questions about the inactive Komenda Sugar Factory and the status of the Central Regional Development Commission as a development agency. He encouraged journalists to uphold professional ethics, dress appropriately, and prioritize their safety, reminding them that no story is worth risking their lives.
Mr. Buadu also expressed concern about the poor working conditions of journalists in the region and called on employers to reconsider the welfare of their staff. Meanwhile, Mr. Eduamoah, the Regional Minister, criticized excessive partisanship in the media and urged journalists to avoid bias, be innovative, and pursue investigative journalism. He encouraged them to find supplementary income streams, such as farming, and to continuously seek knowledge and upgrade their skills.
Mr. Eduamoah also highlighted the issue of poor sanitation in the region and urged the media to help improve the situation. He assured the media of his open-door policy, pledging accountability and transparency. Mr. Arthur, the Mayor of Cape Coast, commended the journalists for their development contributions and pledged support from his office. He also promoted the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly's eight-year development plan, seeking media support for its realization.
Madam Nicholina Adumuah, the Central Regional Head of the National Insurance Commission (NIC), educated journalists on the importance of insurance for self-protection and encouraged them to inform the public about it.
She promised special insurance packages for journalists in the region as well as the GJA Regional Office.