I won’t be the one to wreak the peace in the north-New minister promise as he takes over the region
The newly sworn in Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Shani Alhassan Shaibu has pledged to sustain the peace the region is currently enjoying.
Alhaji Sahani known among the locals in Tamale as Shani Bakery said it is his desire to promote the peace the region because it has witnessed some semblance of peace and he should not be the one to wreak the peace. He pledged support to the media and wish same will be extended by the media practitioners in the region.
The minister who officially took over office from his predecessor, Salifu Saeed Monday March 15, 2021 pledge to ensure that the peace is will be with the support of the media.
Speaking at his maiden meeting with the journalists at the Regional Coordinating Council, Alhaji Shani Alhassan said his office is open for the media to seek credible information to enable them discharge their work.
He assured the Media of cordial working relationship adding he cannot succeed in discharging the four years mandate assigned to him by the president without the media.
The best way to start the execution of the mandate, Alhaji Shani noted is through media, he emphasized. He reiterated that all communications from his end will be positive and that he expects same from the media and encourage journalist to endeavor seek clarity on issues they are not sure off before passing it to the public.
He pleaded with the media not to rely on hearsay but seeks further clarifications before chaining out to the public. ’’I will plead with you, sometimes hearsay is hazardous to information flow, if you don’t hear from the horses own month, please try and seek relevance information from the source so that you do not report and later on regret of whatever reported’’ he pleaded.
The RCC, Alhaji Shani said is the coordination center and any journalist with difficulties in getting information from the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chiefs can contact the chief director or his office secretariat for support.
GJA pledge
Acting northern Regional chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Yakubu Abdul Majeed assured the new administration of the journalists’ efforts for the good in the region.
He appealed to the minister not to repeat the immediate past administration where some section of the media carries along leaving majority including state own media houses.
The journalists Mr Majeed said will continue to extend their corporation and readiness to work with his regime to promote peace and unity in the region. It is the hope of the inky fraternity that the minister will open his door to all media men not some section of the media. he recollected in recent past where even though it may not be the fault of the outgone minister but the system that was in place was not favorable to the media.
The Ghanaian Times Newspaper Regional Correspondent recollected in recent past were all the state media houses at a point were neglected to extent that even when the president is in in the region.
He promised on behalf of colleagues never to do anything deliberately to tarnish the name of the region, his person or the government. He however, reminded the minister that journalists will not like to be taken for grant, adding that it should a win-win situation and respect for all media personnel as stakeholders in the development of the north.