Information flow necessary for success of government programmes - Botwe

Accra, Feb. 18, GNA - Mr. Dan Botwe, Minister of Information, on Friday stressed the importance of timely and accurate information flow for the success of government programmes.

Speaking at a day's seminar for regional and district information officers, Mr Botwe said, to get the citizens to fully participate in any government programme depended on how well information was disseminated to them.

"It is information flow that will make them enjoy the dividend of good governance when they are fully informed about the policies of government."

He, therefore, tasked the regional and district information officers to submit daily reports to the Ministry to enable government to get the necessary feedback on its policies from the people for action. In this vein information officers at the Ministries, Departments and Agencies must also submit weekly reports about activities that take place in their organisations.

The seminar is to enhance officers' understanding on the deregulation of the petroleum sector, the President's sessional address and the Budget process for them to articulate them to the people at the grassroots.

The Ministries of Energy and Finance and Economic Planning are organising the seminar.

In a speech read on his behalf, Mr Kwadwo Mpiani, Chief of Staff, said information flow among the people was important for rapid socio-economic development.

He asked the officers to play their roles effectively to ensure that the government's developmental agenda got to the people. "Whether the public in the rural, urban and foreign lands will accept government policies, programmes and activities depends largely on you, information officers as public relations officers of the state," he said.

Mr Mpiani said good governance with the active involvement of the people in the process of national administration and development could only be achieved through free flow of information. He emphasised training for the acquisition of skills to enhance performance and added that government would make available resources for the execution of tasks.