From Issah Alhassan, Kumasi
MEDIA PRACTITIONERS in the Ashanti Region and Officers of the Northern Command of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) last Friday commenced what promises to be a fruitful working relationship between the military and members of the inky fraternity in the country.
Members of the two institutions engaged in a 6km Route March through some principal streets in the Kumasi metropolis, to signal peace and cordial relationship.
The Relationship between the media and the military often times have been hazy, largely due to irregular release of information and sometimes reports of alleged mishandling of media personnel by some military officers.
The move, therefore, forms part of efforts by the GJA and the GAF to build smooth working relationship to enhance the defence and development of the country.
The walk brought together high profile personalities, including the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Brigadier-General Richard Opoku-Adusei and the National President of the Ghana Journalists Association, Dr. Affail Monney.
In an address, the Chief of Army Staff, Brigadier-General Opoku-Adusei, said cordial relationship between the media and the military should be a matter of necessity rather than a privilege, since it would go a long way to help in the defence and protection of the territorial integrity of the country.
The Chief of Army Staff noted that there was the need for a review of system of information delivery, stressing that the flow of releasable information must be done proactively, whilst efforts must also be made to avoid the over-classification of information which he said, often gives room for the media to speculate.
He said, to this end, Public Relations directorate within the GAF has been decentralized with the establishment of an office in Kumasi to deal with all issues concerning the media.
According to him, this will create the enabling environment in terms of cross checking information, standing arrangements and other processes in information delivery.
Brigadier-General Opoku-Adusei, therefore, suggested the establishment of a curricular in military training and working process at Journalism institutions in the country and vice versa, so that a working understanding can be created amongst the two institutions.
“There is also the need for the creation of a specialist in defence and security correspondence to enhance the flow of information, this collaboration is necessary so that we don’t operate at parallel lines,” he emphasized.
He further proposed that if possible, the Route March must be organized on quarterly basis to sustain the relationship.
The National President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Affail Monney, commended both the Northern Command of the Ghana Armed Forces and the Ashanti Regional GJA for the initiative, stressing that it would help eliminate all forms of misconceptions the media harboured about the military.
The GJA President pledged the readiness of the media to collaborate with the GAF in working towards ensuring the protection and development of the country.
Pix: GJA President Affail Monney, Ashanti GJA chairman pose with
military officers