Oguaa MCE asks journalists to specialise

The Cape Coast Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Mr. Anthony Egyir Aikins, has called on journalists to consider specialising in specific fields to make them specialists in one area, rather than going about as general reporters.

He noted that specialisation by journalists would help the speedy development of the country, because journalists could have authority over what they write about, and properly inform those in government to take the necessary professional actions to bring about the needed change.

Mr. Aikins made the call at a graduation ceremony for 11 specialised reporters, trained by the Central Press College in Cape Coast, at the weekend.

Mr. Aikins also urged journalists to be courageous and knowledgeable on national issues, so that they can inform the general public adequately.

The newly-confirmed Cape Coast MCE observed that governments may have good programmes to implement, but the way journalists disseminate information on them, can affect how people would embrace those programmes, and advised journalists to dig deep into such programmes before going public.

The Central Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr. George Ebo Sackey, appealed to journalists to ensure equitable distribution of the national cake, by holding government accountable.

According to him, the only way a journalist could ensure equitable distribution of national cake, was to know the size and priorities of every area.

Mr. Celetaire Nyome, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Coastal TV, a local television station in Cape Coast, who chaired the function, said journalists had a lot of work to do in the area of development of the nation, and appealed to them to stop the exaggeration of national issues.

He also bemoaned the situation where politics dominates the airwaves, while human interest stories were relegated to the background.

In another development, the Central Regional Minister, Ms. Ama Benyiwa Doe, has praised Ghanaian women for their hard work which has propelled the nation to this level.

She said Ghanaian women suffered a lot, in terms of keeping the home and working for the country, therefore they needed commendation for their selfless contributions to national development.

The Minister said this at the Presbyterian Church Ghana, Ebenezer Congregation, Pedu, when she joined them to worship on Mothers' Day, which fell yesterday.

She said the suffering of women will not be in vain, as Ghanaian women were blazing the trail in some key positions, taking decisions that affected many lives in the country.

Touching on her assumption in office as Regional Minister, she urged women in the region to rally behind her to become successful, explaining that her success would be one for women in the region, and the country as a whole.

On the other hand, she noted that her failure would be a blot on the image of women nationwide, and called on all women, irrespective of party colours, to bring forth their suggestions to help develop the region.

Ms. Benyiwa Doe re-emphasised the need for women to take their children's education seriously, so as to ensure a better future for them and guard them from attending film shows, which retard the academic growth of children.

Rev. Cromwell, a Minister with the church, said three days prayer and fasting was done by the church, to pray to relieve from Ghana from the global economic recession, so as to enable the country prosper.

The church room was charged with singing and dancing, as the congregation celebrated Mothers' Day.