Koforidua, Dec 23, GNA - The Eastern Regional Minister, Dr Francis Osafo-Mensah, has called on journalists to bring to the public domain issues that would help maintain the peace and tranquillity prevailing in the country.

He urged them to be concerned with the propriety and effect of what they write since "any unguarded statements can inflame passions on the whole society to the detriment of the very people we are keeping informed."

Dr Osafo-Mensah, who was speaking at a Press Soiree for media practitioners in the Eastern Region on Monday, hosted by the Regional Co-ordinating Council reminded journalists of their important role as the Fourth Estate of the Realm and their responsibility towards the sustenance and growth of Ghana's young democracy.

The Regional Minister said utterances and statements being made by some sections of the public through the media do turn into "nasty controversies" because of the different interpretations given them. He cautioned journalists to guard against creating chaos in the country during the coming electioneering year, adding that, "tempers flare up depending on how you interpret statements."

Dr Osafo-Mensah commended the Eastern Regional press corps for their performance in projecting the region to the rest of the country with professionalism and assured them of the support of the RCC in the discharge of their work.

The Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA), Mr. Tom Brentuo, appealed to his colleagues to equip themselves adequately on issues confronting the nation before portraying them to the general public to maintain the sanctity of the profession.

He stressed the need for journalists to be guided by the truth and the code of ethics of the profession at all times in order that the interest of Ghana is carried high above all other partisan interests to ensure the smooth electioneering campaign during the next election year.