Upper East Regional Minister, Rockson Ayine Bukari on Thursday said the quality of debates on radio and television stations need to be scrutinized and facilitated to derive maximum benefit for the listening and viewing public.
He observed that the quality of some issues discussed on these airwaves was worrying to serious and decent minded citizens, and noted that it was incumbent on Journalists, especially radio and television talk show hosts to control their guests and serial callers when they use unacceptable or abusive language on others.
Mr Bukari was speaking at a press soiree in Bolgatanga organised by the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) which attracted Municipal and District Chief Executives, and Heads of Departments.Â
It offered the media the opportunity to quiz duty bearers on diverse issues pertaining to development in the Region.
Mr Bukari said “not everyone has the opportunity or time to contribute to radio discussions or call to refute allegations leveled against him or her,†and added that the liberalization of the media landscape was meant to enhance the democratic credentials of the country.
He indicated that the media liberalization was nevertheless intended to be used to malign decent citizens who had gained their reputation through years of toil.
{loadmodule mod_banners,nativeads}
The Minister said even though remunerations to journalists from some media houses were not the best, it was not an excuse for journalists to exhibit mediocrity in the discharge of their duties, and urged them to endeavour to cross check their facts to avert publishing falsehoods.
He observed that the various cities, towns and villages in the region were engulfed in filth which had resulted in wide spread of some preventable diseases like malaria, typhoid, cholera among others, and called on the media to join hands with government to spread the message of good sanitation practices.
Mr Bukari charged the media to impress on their behavioural change agent role to educate the masses on attitudinal change towards sanitation and the felling of trees, especially rosewood, the prevention of bush fires, illegal mining on farm lands and the destruction of water bodies and forests to guarantee sustainable development in the Region.
www.primenewsghana.com/Â Ghana News