Kumasi, Aug. 22, GNA - Media practitioners have been urged to equip themselves with knowledge and skills that will help them educate the public to resolve conflicts amicably.

Mr Yaw Adu-Gyamfi, Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), who made the call, said the media had the responsibility to educate the public to maintain peace in their communities and provide a voice for the voiceless during conflict situations.

He was speaking at the opening of a three-day workshop on media and peace- building for journalists in Kumasi on Monday. The workshop, which is being organised by the NMC with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), aimed at building the capacities of the 18 journalists to enable them participate actively in peace-building process and project the voice of the voiceless during conflict situations.

Mr Adu-Gyamfi said during conflict situations, women and children became more vulnerable and there was the need for the media to provide a voice for these groups to enable their plights to be heard at all times. He charged the media to be circumspect in reporting conflict situations in order not to inflame passions.

Mr George Boateng, Executive Secretary of the NMC, said the Commission with the support of the UNDP was embarking on a project to monitor the contents of all radio stations in the country to identify some of the problems facing them.

He said the Commission would also monitor the activities of media practitioners and provide the needed training and support to those, who were more focused and committed to improve themselves. Dr Nick Ideko, Media Consultant and a resource person, advised journalists to be responsible to their audience and provide accurate, balanced and factual reportage.

Dr Abiodun Onadipe, also a Media Consultant and resource person, regretted that, the media often forgot the plight of the vulnerable during conflict situations and urged them to endeavour to highlight the plight of the vulnerable to enable the public appreciate their plight.