FROM Daniel Y Dayee, Sunyani
BONO REGIONAL executives of the Ghana Journalists Association ( GJA) yesterday paid a courtesy call on the Bono Regional Minister, Joseph Addae Akwaboa to welcome him since assumption of office and also appreciate him for honouring invitation to attend the association’s celebration of International Press Freedom day.
Members included, Regina Benneh Siaw, the acting regional chairperson of the GJA, Fiifii Ofosu- Okyere, executive member, Jonney Sam Arthur-member members, Daniel Y Dayee- member and Imoro Ayibani- member.
They were received by the minister and other members of the Regional Coordinating Council including Theresa Adjei Memsah, Regional administrator, Nicholars Amponsah personal assistant to the regional minister and the Regional Economic Planning Officer, Joseph Mensah.
In a discussion madam, Regina Benneh Siaw stated the visit was to welcome the minister and also appreciate his service to association.
She assured him of the readiness of the media in the region to collaborate with him to develop the region. ‘We are glad to be here to welcome you as the minister for the region.
We also want to say we ever ready to support your leadership and thank you for honouring our invitation during the international press freedom day. Your present meant a lot to us and we wish to say we are grateful.
On his part Joseph Addae Akwaboa expressed satisfaction with the media executives saying his administration is to push government agenda so all members of society could go round their economic duties peacefully in the region.
He, however, urged the media personnel to do responsible journalism according to ethics of the profession.
I expect your members to do genuine reporting because you have the freedom to operate. Media practioners should project the region to attract investment. Let’s try as much as possible to project the region as there are great tourism potentials to attract investment to create job opportunities for the teaming unemployed youth.
So I urge you to publish the right information to sell the region.
Joseph Addae Akwaboa used the opportunity to inform the media about plans to resum military operations against galamsay operators in some parts of the region and that of illegal cattle herdsmen who are destroying farmers crops within the Banda enclave.
‘We are about to roll out some operations about cattle herds who are destroying people’s farms. The issue is now worse at Banda area. it is booming but we are determined that curb it. We shall not be purturbed about the repercussions because I know they are going to fight us back.
The challenge, however is funding because one operation costs a lot of money and so we are mobilization sources to begin. The issue of fuel, something small for the troops cost lot of funds but we shall try our best to sustain it, he assured.
I urge you to support us by educating the public to desist from these acts that destroy the environment which we depend on for our surviva.