Mr Eric Amoh, Acting Regional Manager of the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in the Upper East Region over the weekend urged the media to help repackage Bawku through positive reportage.
Mr Amoh said this would enable the area to regain its glory as the most vibrant economic hub of the Upper East Region.
He made the call during a working visit to the Bawku Municipality, to acquaint himself with the work of the GNA in the area and also interact with some heads of department to share experiences and find strategies on how to report news from Bawku, especially, now that peace has returned to the area.
Mr Amoh said even though Bawku could still be fragile, the people have consented to uphold the peace in the area through their willingness to revamp businesses and maintain discipline.
He observed that Bawku still abounds in huge economic potentials and that residents have returned to business, with the construction of stores, guest houses and new residential accommodations, all geared towards the economic and business growth of the area.
Mr Amoh, who is also the Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), conceded that the media contributed to the fanning of some of the negative activities in the area and said it was time the media contributed to repackage Bawku to regain its vibrancy.
He also paid courtesy calls on the Bawku Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Issahaku Bukari, the Bawku Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Kaletsi Tefutor and the Commanding Officer in Charge of the Airborne Detachment (on relief duties), Captain Abdulai Fatawu.
The Chief Executive expressed gratitude for the visit and said the people of Bawku were determined to sustain and improve on the peace since harmony and tranquility were the driving forces of economic growth.
Mr Tefutor expressed optimism that the visit would improve on the police media relationship in the area, saying that, it opens an opportunity for better collaboration in information sharing and dissemination since the two institutions were partners in keeping the nation focused on development.
He said the police was prepared to collaborate effectively with the Ghana News Agency in achieving the intended aims of the two institutions.
The Police Commander asked Mr Amoh to use his influence as the Regional Chairman of the GJA to advice media practitioners to be circumspect in their reportage because they were the ears and mouths of the people, and that, a little twist of information could cause chaos in the country.
Mr Tefutor commended the media for its role in promoting the rule of law in the country and urged it to do more and assured of his outfit’s readiness to maintain law and order and to protect life and property in the area.