A Senior lecturer at the University for Development Studies (UDS), Professor Saa Dittoh has described the intermittent conflicts in the northern Ghana as most unfortunate, but observed that the situation could be turned round with the exploitation of the area’s natural resources to improve on the incomes of the people.
He stated that the enhancement in educational infrastructure and a policy of enrolment and retention of children into school, coupled with a well developed agricultural sector in the area would not only create a well-informed society, but also offer opportunities for social cohesion and lessen conflicts in communities.
The lecturer mentioned food crop, cotton and shea-nut production, and minerals such as gold as some of resources that abound in northern Ghana. He however, stated that those could be exploited “only if there is the political will”.
Professor Dittoh was speaking at a seminar for media practitioners from the three northern regions in Tamale.
Nu Image Communications, a non-governmental organisation organised the seminar on the theme: “Rebranding the north-The role of the media”.
Prof. Dittoh, who spoke on the political, social and economic opportunities in the north, stated that if given the needed attention, those resources could open up the area for accelerated economic growth as more job openings would be created and the incomes of the people, majority of who are peasant farmers, improved upon.
“We are not begging that poverty be alleviated in the north, but the fact is that, reducing poverty in the area is very necessary for the total development of the nation,” the lecturer stated.
According to him, the growing slums in the big cities were partly because of the neglect of the north over the years, and that had resulted in the current situation in Accra where a large army of unemployed but energetic youth had been compelled to live in such deplorable conditions in search of menial jobs to make a living.
Prof. Dittoh mentioned roads, education and health infrastructure, electricity, water, markets for agriculture produce, as some of the facilities that could create “the enabling environment required for the vast economic potentials and opportunities to become reality”.
The Corporate Affairs Director of Vodafone, Major A.B. Don-Chebe (retd) stressed the importance of destination, country and place branding, which he said, was a popular tool for government to improve on its international profile and also attract foreign direct investment to promote commerce and tourism.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Northern Regional Minister, Mr Stephen Nayina called on the media to emphasise more on the development challenges facing the people, particularly in rural communities and not to turn itself into an instrument of blackmail, intimidation, tyranny and an agent of confusion and conflicts”.
He also entreated journalists to be objective and investigate issues before publishing them.
The Executive Director of Nu Image Communications, Mr David Yaro, said the organisation was committed to championing the cause of the re-branding of the north through consistent advocacy by using the media.
A veteran journalist Mr Alhassan Imoro, re-launched George Sydney Abugri’s book Letter to Jomo, which was originally launched in Accra early this year.
The book constituted a record of objectively critical commentary on some of the important socio-economic and political events that have unfolded in the country since the 90’s.
According to Mr Imoro, “the media faces a great challenge in the task of unifying our people through reporting and analyses which will dispose our people more to reconciliation and understanding of how the conflicts have negatively affected the development of the area”.
No comments:
Post a Comment