General News of Saturday, 4 June 2011

Source: GNA

National Porter Project seeks to brand Ghana

Wa, June 4, GNA - The Ministry of Information would soon come out wi= th a project to help brand Ghana to attract foreign investors, Mr Baba Jamal, Deputy Minister of Information has announced. The project dubbed: 93National Porter Project", would seek to brand= the Regions and Districts in the country on the economic potentials, health status, social facilities, ecology and environment features as well as physical and geographical dimensions. Mr Jamal made this known when he interacted with the staff of the Information Services Department (ISD) and District Chief Executives (DCEs) in Wa on Friday, as part of a two-day official visit to the Upper West Region. The visit is to help strengthen government information systems and dissemination, especially in the rural areas.

Mr Jamal said under the project, the ISD and District Assemblies would be expected to provide detailed accounts on political leaders, traditional rulers and other stakeholders, cultural practices and festivals as well as major ethnic groups and languages spoken by people in the various areas. He said each Region and District is also to produce a logo and a sloga= n to help brand itself to the outside world.

Mr Jamal said the branding would help promote a healthy competition among the various Regions. He called on journalists to regard government as an enemy but as partner in development. Mr Jamal said that Government would continue to accept criticisms but cautioned that should be fair and beneficial to the people. He reminded the ISD that it form integral part of the District Assembl= y and must avoid partisan politics.

Mr Jamal cautioned that 93ISD staffs are not politicians; they are to say what they are told to say. You have no opinion of your own. Governmen= t opinion is your opinion and you must, therefore, present government in a positive light". He advised District Chief Executives to consider the ISD as its mouth piece and ask the Department to disseminate government information to the people at the grassroots. Mr Jamal warned ISD staffs, who use cinema vans to convey goods, to desist from the practice. He said the Ministry had procured 250 computers for distribution to IS= D Regional and District offices to facilitate work.