Jury Newspaper launched in Accra

Accra, March 9, GNA - Hajia Hawawu Boya Gariba, Deputy Minister of Women and Children's Affairs, on Wednesday called on the media to publicise the needs and interest of the vulnerable and marginalised in society for the attention of the appropriate authorities.

She noted that the country could not achieve sustainable development when the media failed to play its expected role.

Hajia Gariba made the call at the launch of Jury Newspaper, a 14-page weekly publication, which focuses on legal reportage, human right abuses, conditions of the prisons and the administration of justice in Accra. She said some major challenges of the country were widespread gender disparities and inequalities, marginalisation of women and girls and the absence of adequate opportunities for them to participate effectively in national development and share equitably in the gains of development. Hajia Gariba urged the publishers through their reportage to end human trafficking, child prostitution and pornography, child labour, irresponsibl= e parenthood, domestic violence and the numerous challenges that were militating against the welfare of women and children in the communities.

She urged journalists to monitor and expose people, who abuse the rights of others without fear or favour, adding that they should endeavor to operate without compromising the ethics of their profession no matter the challenges.

Mr Isaac Fritz Andoh, Managing Editor of Catholic Standard Newspaper, noted that court reporting was an area fraught with danger if care was not taken in assembling the facts, adding 93one needs tonnes of patience to si= t through hearing of cases".

He advised the management of the newspaper not to put anyone on trial in their publications but report accurately and objectively bearing in mind the cardinal principles of the Ghana Journalists Association's Code of Ethics, which included balance and fairness.

Mr Andoh urged the management to put in place good marketing and distribution strategies to keep the newspaper on the newsstand, saying "without advertisements to support your write-ups you are likely to be in financial crises".

Mr Wilfred Ray Ankomah, Editor of the newspaper, said it would explore a completely new area which would ensure that people's rights were not trampled upon.

He said the newspaper would reach out to all and provide true and unbiased account of their interest and plight to ensure that they were treated like true human beings.

Mr Ankomah called for the collaborative effort of legislators, legal experts, law enforcement agencies and media experts for the success of the newspaper.