MEDIA URGED TO RESEARCH INTO CONFLICTS ... PAGE 21

Story: Samuel Duodu, Forikrom

THE Chief of Forikrom, near Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region, Okogyeman Kese Basahyia II, has appealed to media practitioners in the country to endeavour to uncover sources of conflict and suggest useful ways of dealing with their prevention and solution.
According to him, it behoved the media to research into the causes of conflicts in order to provide reliable early warning signals for timely intervention and minimise the factors contributing to the fuelling conflicts in the country.
"Our writing should help promote conflict awareness and management, highlight the plight of victims and provide reliable and credible data on conflict situations and enlighten society and the government on conflict issues," he stressed.
Nana Basahyia, who is also a journalist and Benkumhene of the Techiman Traditional Area, made the appeal when he was “outdoored” under the stool name Okogyeman Kese Basahyia at Forikrom over the weekend.
The Forikromhene expressed regret that in some circumstances the media in Africa had become tools of conflict, adding, "Some of my colleagues in the media have, in some cases, been fanning conflict anywhere they find themselves."
He, therefore, urged media practitioners not to allow themselves to be used as tools to fan conflicts which retard the smooth development of communities.
Touching on electioneering, Nana Basahyia urged politicians to dwell on issues that would bring about development and lead to improvement in the living standards of Ghanaians.
Nana Basahyia called for co-operation from his people to enable him to reign effectively and pledged that education would be his top priority.
The Omanhene of Techiman Traditional Area, Oseadeeyo Akumfi Ameyaw IV, who performed the outdooring ceremony, urged the people to bury their differences and unite for the speedy development of the town.
Earlier in a welcoming address, Nana Kwaw Adama, the Twafohene of Forikrom, called on the people to rally behind the new chief to ensure the socio-economic development of the town.
Nana Apeteng Fosu Gyeabour, the Hansuahene and Bemuhene of the Techiman Traditional Area, who chaired the function, expressed the hope that citizens of the town would renew their support for the chief and contribute their quota to the development of the area.
Nana Basahyia, known in private life as Mr Osei Bonsu, currently the Printing Manager of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), succeeded the late Nana Kwaku Adjapong, who died at the age of 102. The new chief is married with four children.