Koforidua, Aug 17, GNA - Regional ministers on Sunday urged the National Media Commission (NMC) and the National Communication Authority (NCA) to collaborate effectively to advocate supervision and professional development of journalists. In a communiqu=E9 issued at the end of their three-day conference in Koforidua, the ministers noted that there was the need for the two bodies to collaborate to manage the content of media reportage in the interest of the nation.

The communiqu=E9 said in as much as it supported the Freedom of Information Bill to facilitate the work of journalists, the two bodies must step up their responsibility in guarding the integrity and harmony of the nation.

It recommended that the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) made proposals for making the Regional Coordinating Councils (RCC) financially autonomous with clear budgetary allocations and to institute regional composite budgeting. The communiqu=E9 proposed that the MLGRD and the Ghana School Feeding Program (GSFP) pay attention to recommendations from the regions to re-direct the programme to more under-deprived and vulnerable areas other than the regional capitals.

It also urged that opportunities provided by the oil find be utilized to the utmost to enhance the economic well-being of the people, building technical and managerial capacity in the oil and gas sectors and to strengthen the local institutions for a better Ghana. The ministers later resolved to infuse the "better Ghana" concept into all communications to be consciously coordinated and encourage media reportage of development programmes in order to prevent voids in information dissemination.