 |
Most Rev. Gabriel A. A. Mante, Bishop of Jasikan, has called on media practitioners to refocus their minds on programmes that would empower Ghanaians socially and economically.
He said the media have a role to play in the nation’s development through the building of good films and cinema documentations.
“Ghana is on the threshold of clocking 50 years as an independent sovereign State and as a people and nation, we have to refocus our minds on good programmes that would improve our social and economic empowerment of our people.”
Bishop Mante was opening a three-day workshop on screen-writing at the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI), Accra.
It was organised by the Catholic Association of Media Practitioners – Ghana (CAMP-G) and sponsored by the Congregation of the propagation of the Faith in collaboration with Signis, the world Catholic Association for Communication, and the Department of Social Communications (DEPSOCOM) of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference.
Bishop Mante who is the Episcopal Chairman of DEPSOCOM bemoaned what he referred to as “the crushing and humiliating poverty, disease and other negative social conditions that have plaqued the country.”
“I believe that as Catholic Media practitioners, you have an indispensable role to play in helping Ghanaians to free themselves from unnecessary sufferings.”
The Bishop advised Journalists to be mindful of the words they use in their reportage to avoid the constant negative portrayal of events in Ghana and Africa. He expressed regret at the poor reportage about Africa in foreign media. “Certainly, we must be critical in our thinking about our country but the final result of such thinking must be positive for the building of our society into a united and peace-loving nation,” the Bishop stated.
The opening ceremony was attended by Mr. Benedict Assorow, Communications Director of the Symposium of Episcopal Conference of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) and Mr. Martin Loh, Director of NAFTI, who chaired.
Dr. G. Kwesi Annoh, President of CAMP-G urged Catholic media practitioners to champion the truth in the daily discharge of their duties.
Mr. Assorow advised script-writers to portray Africa positively and announced that the DEPSOCOM had trained many Catholic journalists.
Mr. Loh said “the media in Ghana is full of negative reports about ourselves.”
He told the 24 participants that politicisation of every event in Ghana was retarding her progress.
In closing remarks, Mr. Isaac Fritz Andoh, Managing Director of The Standard, congratulated the participants and urged them to upgrade themselves at the least opportunity and avoid complecency.
“The end result of every training should be to offer better services to the people you are expected to serve and you can only do this if you yourselves are trained,” he said.
Mr. Andoh, Mr. Assorow and Mr. Loh distributed certificates to the participants.
More News... |
