The Director of News, Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), Mrs. Mavis Kitcher has asked regions across the country to partner the company in its initiative known as Graphic Regional Spotlight to showcase their areas for investment.
She made the request at the Upper West Regional launch of the spotlight at Wa.
GBCs Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo reports that the launch took the form of a durbar with chiefs and elders from the Wala Traditional Area in attendance in their beautiful smocks.
The Upper West Regional spotlight in Wa which is the second comes after that of the Western Regional version which was launched in Takoradi.
Mrs. Mavis Kitcher recalled that the regional spotlight started because the Board of GCGL headed by Prof. Kwame Karikari mooted the idea for each region to be given a platform through the Daily Graphic to galvanize the people in order to change their situations as a way of further improving their conditions in their localities.
She indicated that a former President of the Ghana Journalists Association and columnist, Ajoa Yeboah-Afari and other fellow board members have been very supportive of the initiative and what it stands for.
Mrs. Kitcher highlighted the synergy Graphic as an entity wants to forge through the regional spotlight: “We want to tell you that we have come to serve you, we have come to listen to you, we have come to let everybody else to read about the Upper West Region, to know your culture, to know the kind of things that you have in this region. Let people know how unique you are. So when we come to you, open up your doors to us. We will talk about your achievements so that others will read about them and learn from you and the basic aim of all these, is to ensure that your region is covered very well.”
The Upper West Regional Minister Dr. Hafiz Bin Salih was very thankful to GCGL for the Regional Spotlight directed at projecting the developmental issues of Upper West in the Daily Graphic to the entire world.
He averred: “I know pushing our region up the developmental ladder through these laudable platforms is more sustainable and would surely yield the needed results we all hope to achieve.”
Dr. Bin Salih underscored the need for a free and independent media that will reflect divergent views whilst remaining accountable.
”We are just beginning the process of electioneering campaign at both the local and national levels and therefore I wish to use this opportunity to urge the media to be circumspect in their reportage in order not to fuel tensions among the political parties or contestants,” he noted.
The Busa Naa and Vice President of the Wala Traditional Council, Naa Ali Seidu Pelpuo stood in for the Wa Naa, Naa Fuseini Pelpuo as the chairman for the function.
The Busa Naa stated that the launching of the spotlight program in Wa, will certainly bring to light Wa and its potentials to both national and international interest groups.
Naa Ali Seidu Pelpuo continued that it will also bring to the fore issues that otherwise may never be heard of by the majority of the citizens or may even be overlooked in the socio-economic and political lives of the people.
A Wa based poet, Joseph Pobee spiced up the event with some interesting recitations.
The main event was preceded by a walk through the principal streets of Wa.
Among the dignitaries that graced the occasion was the News Editor of Daily Graphic, Vincent Kobby Asmah.
Story by Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo
