The association said the lack of a regional office and means of transport hindered the smooth delivery of its mandate as watchdog and behaviour change agent over the years.
Mr Eric Kwadjo Amoh, the Upper East Regional Chairman of the Association made the appeal in Bolgatanga during a Press Soiree organised by the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC).
The programme was to deepen government and media engagements as partners in development and discuss issues that would lead to the development of the region.
It also offered opportunity for the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Rockson Ayine Bukari to outline government’s achievements so far and its plans for the future.
Mr Amoh indicated that the regional GJA office was necessary because it was an avenue to assemble media practitioners in the region under one umbrella to deliberate on issues that affect the region and how they could help through their work to addressing them.
Effective collectivism and collaboration, he said, was very crucial among the media fraternity and between the media and duty bearers, hence the emphasis on acquiring the office to create the enabling environment to enhance development through dialogue.
The Chairman reiterated the Association’s commitment to working with the government to deal with issues of poor sanitation in the region and urged government and the Ghana Police Service to provide enough security for journalists to work effectively.
While commending the media for being adjudged the best in Sub-Saharan Africa, Mr Amoh tasked them to eschew partisanship reportage and hold duty bearers accountable for their actions for the benefit of the masses.
Mr Bukari gave assurance to the Association to provide the needed office space and means of transport to the media in the region to assist them in their line of duties.
Mr Bukari charged the journalists to look beyond the ordinary daily routine urban and city reports and concentrate more on rural issues to bring out the real challenges confronting rural communities.
He said ‘the media has not been paying much attention to the rural communities which are very necessary in the development agenda of every nation. I would urge you to consider extending your coverage to rural communities to enhance development.’
The Regional Minister admonished hosts of programmes on Radio and Television stations to control their panel in their studios to avoid the use of abusive words on persons or institutions to maintain the peace in the region and called for collective efforts from all stakeholders including the media to develop the region.
Also at the programme were; Mr Fuseini Adongo Deputy Regional Minister, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCEs) in the region, Municipal and District Coordinating Directors, heads of various departments in the region, members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Heads of the Security Agencies.
The programme was chaired by the Paramount Chief of the Talensi Traditional Area, Tong-Rana, Kulbilsong Nalebegtang.
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Source: GNA
