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The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) at the weekend encouraged the media to intensify public education on the proposed election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief (MMDCEs) in the country.

Mr Albert Dwumfour, the National Organising Secretary, said the election of the MMDCEs make them more accountable to the people and should be supported.

He applauded the government for the decision to give “power” to citizens to pick the district political heads.

He added that, this had placed an enormous task on journalists and media houses – print and electronic, to sensitize the general public, to help them to understand, embrace and to fully participate in all the processes to make the vision a reality.

Speaking at a training workshop held in Kumasi, Mr Dwumfour said the citizens ought to understand the concept and constitutional processes involved to enable them to make an informed choice.

It brought together selected members of the GJA in Ashanti and Brong-Ahafo and the goal was to sensitize them on an inclusive local governance project being implemented by the GJA.

The 18-month GJA-STAR Ghana project, dubbed “Enhanced media-CSO partnerships for Inclusive local governance”, is aimed at strengthening media and Civil Society Organizations (CSO) collaboration for inclusive and accountable local governance in the country.

Mr Dwumfour reminded the media of its constitutional mandate to inform, entertain and educate the populace, saying that, “the citizens look and rely on the media to lead the agenda to influence and sharpen policy direction for their benefit.”

He said the media played an essential role towards the successful implementation of government policies and programmes, and advised journalists to keep the citizens well informed - update them on policies such as the creation of the new regions and the proposed election of the MMDCEs to make them successful.

Mr Kojo Impraim, the Programmes Manager, GJA-STAR project, challenged the media to critically analyze and interrogate government’s policies and programmes to better inform the people.

Madam Rebecca Ekpe, the GJA-STAR Ghana Project Officer, said the media and CSOs collaboration would contribute to enriching the citizens’ access to quality information through structured media platforms and CSOs outlets.

The GJA in partnership with civil society actors would carry out integrated set of media interventions in order to strengthen the seemingly weak collaboration between the two institutions.

The GJA anticipates that the project is going to contribute to improve citizens’ access to information on public policy-making and implementation and add value to the livelihoods of citizen, especially the vulnerable, marginalised and socially excluded persons in the communities.