Accra, July 28, GNA - Mr Affail Monney, Vice President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) said on Thursday that it was important for journalists to 93sanitize and purify" the media environment before the upcoming general election.

He said the GJA would lend its fullest support to help to ensure decency in media reportage, adding that the implementation of the broadcasting law would provide a cure to the indecency on the airwaves. Mr Monney said this when the GJA received donations from the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Ministry of Information towards the GJA awards. EPA donated GH¢3,000 to support the winner on Environmental Reportin= g award; GCB also donated a cheque of GH¢3,000 for the winner in the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) category while the Ministry of Information is supporting the winner of the Rural development award. Mr Monney cautioned journalists to be wary of their actions which coul= d have a direct impact on the elections and be decent in their language to avoid ethical misconduct. "Disturbing signals in the political sphere have become alarming and journalists are mandated to ensure that the media environment is washed before the 2012 general elections."

He urged the media to exercise its gate-keeping role to avoid escalating tensions as the 2012 elections approached, and thanked the organisations for their support towards the celebrations. Mrs Angelina Mensah, Director of Public Affairs of the EPA, said the Agency saw it as a mandate to share knowledge on policies on how the EPA worked. She also indicated that the move was to deepen the relationship and sustain its partnership with the GJA. Nana Duncan, Marketing Manager of the Ghana Commercial Bank, stated that GCB was interested in developing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) hence the move to support the award with the amount for the SME category winner.

He said democracy stabilized society hence the need for journalists to help to move democracy forward through their reportage. Mr Elvis Adanyina, Acting Director of the Information Services Department (ISD), who represented the Minister of Information, indicated that the Ministry's package towards the event was to support the award winner in Rural Development reporting. He explained that the Rural Development award winner would receive a scholarship package for a one-year study Programme in any University which offers courses in such areas.

He said the winner would in addition enjoy free tuition fees, accommodation, text books and general upkeep, adding it was necessary to carry Government to the people. Mr Bright Blewu, General Secretary of the GJA, said journalists should have a stake in contributing to the development of the country's democrac= y.

He said there would be three honorary awards with Mr K.B. Asante, a former diplomat, who is also a prolific writer and a columnist, being a recipient. The theme for the forthcoming Awards Night is: 93Giving Impetus to Democracy and Development in Africa: The Role of the Investigative Journalist."