Accra, March 19, GNA - Professor Emmanuel Gyimah-Boadi Executive Director of the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) on Wednesday urged journalists to be conversant with the electoral rules and also take interest in the related issues rather than engaging in personal attacks.

He said the media's gate keeping role was crucial to getting the public informed about government activities and programmes. Prof Gyimah-Boadi, who was addressing a media interaction in Accra, acknowledged the special relationship between the Centre and the media in the promotion of democracy and good governance and called for intensified support and collaboration to deepen Ghana's democratic development to entrench good governance.

The interaction, which was part events marking the CDD's 10 years anniversary, aimed at examining the Centre's work over the last decade, its partnership with the media and the work of its regulatory management bodies in promoting and consolidating Ghana's fledgling democracy. He said CDD had trained election observers to monitor votes at both national and international levels and said it also train the media on elections.

Prof Gyimah-Boadi commended the contribution made by the media over the decade in promoting good governance and democracy by keeping watch over the governance process and ensuring that the voice of the ordinary Ghanaians were heard.

"You have helped the Centre to disseminate the findings of its research to policy makers and the public, conveyed and indeed amplified our endless advocacy messages and helped us to be aware of our short comings thereby given us the opportunities for self-correction." Prof Gyimah-Boadi acknowledged that there was corruption not only at the higher level but also at the lower level and pledged CDD's commitment in fighting the canker.

Mr Affail Monney, Vice President of the Ghana Journalists' Association (GJA) assured CDD of the cooperation and collaboration of journalists in ensuring a smooth election, democratic development and good governance.

CDD presented a citation to GJA in acknowledgement of its contribution in ensuring good governance and democracy.