Media urged to focus attention on traditional governance issues

Media practitioners in the country have been asked to pay more attention to the coverage of traditional governance systems in order to adopt its positive characteristics for national development.

The call was made by the lead facilitator for Ghana Community Radio Network, Mr Kofi Larweh, at a two-day capacity workshop for journalists held at Abono, near Lake Bosomtwe in the Ashanti Region.

The event was aimed at deepening the understanding of journalists on good governance to promote national development.

It was organised by the Participatory Development Associate (PDA) in collaboration with Media Network for Good Governance (MeGG).

Mr Larweh said before Ghana adopted democracy as a system of governance, traditional rulers in the country were practicing democratic administration in their various jurisdictions.

He, therefore, entreated the country to assimilate those democratic tenets into our modern system of governance to improve citizens’ participation in decision-making process.

Mr Larweh, the Country's Training Officer for the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters, said for good governance to prevail in the country, there is the need for transparency, accountability, rule of law, consensus building and responsiveness from governance institutions.

He urged the media to link up with governance assurance institutions such as the security agencies, trade unions, civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations and the various commissions established by the Constitution to enhance good governance in the country.

The Convener for MeGG, Kassim Abdallah, observed that for the citizenry to make informed decisions there is the need for information flow from governance assurance institutions.

He entreated the media to update the public with governance issues so as to educate the citizenry adequately to make informed decisions.

Country's Coordinator for PDA, Madam Glowen Kyei-Mensah, tasked the participants to undertake research to expose governance lapses, especially at the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, traditional authorities and social issues that were given less attention.