African Communicators Urged To Be Innovative

Accra, (Greater Accra Region) 10 Oct. African communicators were today asked to find new ways of informing their people to change their attitudes of cherishing large families. Addressing the closing ceremony of a six-week population education course at the Ghana Institute of Journalism, Mr Duah Owusu- Sarfo, assistant representative, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), said the right communication packages will transform the life- styles of the people. He said when they start having smaller families, whom their resources could adequately cater for, they will then enjoy quality lives in future. Mr K. A. Batse, acting director of the Ghana Institute of Journalism, observed that Africa has common problems pertaining to high fertility, infant mortality, malnutrition, teenage pregnancy, environmental degradation, lack of female education and the rights of women and children. "These are the challenges facing us as African communicators", he said, and urged the participants to use what they have learnt to exchange ideas and to identify alternative strategies for finding solutions to some of the common problems facing the continent. Mrs Esther Yaa Apewokin, director of programmes, Research and Training, National Population Council, said since the sub-region has identical population problems, ''it is important to come together to share ideas and experiences in trying to find solutions to our common problems''. She said sharing of ideas is in line with South-South cooperation highlighted at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). ''We need to reach the majority of the population, especially in the rural areas to help them translate their knowledge of family planning into practice'', Mrs Apewokin added.