Kumasi, May 19, GNA - The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has called for public support for the media in the discharge of its role in promoting public accountability and good governance. It said given the firm roots of corruption in the country's socio- cultural, political and economic development, as well as bureaucratic traditions and policies, it was only an aggressive and independent media that could act as an effective counter force against factors that sustained corrupt practices.

Nana Yaw Osei, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the GJA, was speaking at a day's seminar organized by the Internal Audit Agency (IAA) for media practitioners in Kumasi on Tuesday.

The seminar, which was under the theme "The role of the media in promoting accountability and good governance", aimed at informing and educating the media on the mandate of the IAA. It was also to help the journalists to have better understanding of internal audit practices and enhance co-operation between them and the Agency to ensure accountability, transparency and improved performance to achieve good governance. Nana Yaw Osei pointed out that corruption was a problem that every country had to tackle using home-grown solutions. "When journalism maintains its independence and casts critical gaze on the questionable behaviour of public officials, it can serve to expose weaknesses in the system and ultimately reinforce their effectiveness in curbing corruption."

He, however, said it was important for journalists to be accountable themselves by making sure that whatever they wrote or said preserved and entrenched democracy. Nana Yaw Osei commended the IAA for helping to build the capacity and competencies of journalists to aid them to ask the right questions for and on behalf of the people.

Mr Ransford Agyei, acting Director-General of IAA, in an address read for him, said transparency and accountability were critical for the efficient functioning of a modern economy and fostering social well-being. Without transparency and accountability, trust would be lacking between the government and the people and this could result in social instability and less economic growth. Mr Agyei said the media had a crucial role to play in the attainment of the goals and objectives of the Agency, which seeks to promote financial discipline and accountability in the public sector. He, therefore, encouraged journalists to keep themselves abreast of the mandate of the Agency and support it at all times. Mr Thomas Kwegyir-Abaidoo, Head of the IAA Quality Assurance, said they would perform their duty in the area of public financial management to support good governance.