Tamale, Jan. 8, GNA - Mr Moses Bukari Magbenba, Northern Regional Minister designate on Monday pledged to work closely with the media in the region to promote peace and development. He said he would also run an open-door administration that would give the media access to the needed information that would curtail speculative reportage in the region.

Mr Magbenba made the pledge in Tamale at a meeting with the Northern Regional Security Committee (REGSEC) as well as owners and managers of media houses in the region to brainstorm and find solutions to address and maintain the peace in the area.

He noted that when there was inadequate free flow of information to the media, speculative reporting becomes rife.

Mr Magbenba, who is the out-going deputy Northern Regional Minister, would chair the REGSEC if confirmed. He said the meeting was partly convened because of a near clash of factions last week, which occurred during a radio discussion on Justice FM, a local radio station based in Tamale.

He said issues of chieftaincy and politics were very sensitive adding "Care must be taken when discussing such issues on radio in the region else it has a tendency of invoking anger and civil unrest." The Minister Designate implored the radio stations managers to employ professional media personnel who could handle programmes on their networks in an expert and expedient manner.

Some of members of the REGSEC urged media houses particularly the radio stations in the metropolis to choose educative topics for discussion. REGSEC promised to be open to the media. It also impressed on the media to cross check their facts always. 8 Feb. 10