Be well informed - Oboshie urges media

Accra, Sept. 21, GNA - Mrs Oboshie Sai Cofie, Minister of Information and National Orientation (MINO), on Friday stressed the need for radio and TV "Talk Show" presenters to be more informed about issues for efficient information dissemination.

This is to prevent anonymous contributors to programmes from misinforming the public, especially on government activities. Presenters need to be well informed so that they could correct any misrepresentation.

A statement issued by the Ministry said Mrs Sai Cofie was speaking during a familiarization tour to Vibe 91.9 FM; Asempa 94.7 and the Agbogbloshie Market in Accra.

She was accompanied by Mr Nii-Bi Ayibonte and Mrs Catherine Afeku, both Government spokespersons.

Mrs Sai Cofie said talk show presenters should be able to prevent or discourage contributors to programmes from the use of bad language, adding "if presenters are on top of issues, there will be the need for government to intervene less to put things right".

She lauded current effort by the National Communications Authority to ensure that mobile phone chips were registered and stated that "the move will help stem the practice".

At Vibe 91.9 FM on the Ring Road West the Minister was welcomed by Mr Mike Cooke, Chief Executive Officer of the station and Mr Edward Quaye, Business Development Manager, who conducted the entourage round. Mr Cooke congratulated Mrs Sai Cofie on her appointment and appealed to MINO to assist in the continuous training of journalists to meet the current needs of the industry.

He expressed regret that many a time, media people were unable to reach authorities to clarify issues to enable them to bring out the other side of issues.

In her response, Mrs Sai Cofie stated that MINO operated an open-door policy and emphasized that "it is not true that media personnel call at her outfit without getting the required response". In an interview, the Minister said the National Orientation programme, which had always been around, was geared towards all, with special focus on the younger generation and women. The programme, she said, was aimed at discovering the true identity of the Ghanaian with MINO at the focal point and the media as one of its stakeholder promoters.

At Asempa 94.7 FM, she commended the media for improvements in the industry and called for vibrant and responsible media. At Agbogbloshie, Mrs Sai Cofie and the Deputy Minister of Transportation, Mr Opare Asamoah inspected an uncompleted road in front of the market.

The Accra Metro Roads Engineer, Mr. E.D. Owusu explained that during the reconstruction, a portion of the road next to the Odaw Bridge could not be tackled due to ongoing dredging and added that his outfit would ensure that work was completed in due course.

Mrs Sai Cofie called for a massive cleanup exercise to get rid of filth and the stench from the Odaw River.

She promised to take the matter up with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly to fashion out a long term solution to the sanitation challenge.