Enough of politics, media must focus on development - Ashigbey
The Managing director of Graphic Communications Group Limited, Kenneth Ashigbey, says it is time the media shifted its attention from politics and report on issues that will develop the country.
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Speaking at the launch of the National Volunteer Week and International Volunteer Day in Accra, Mr. Ashigbey said volunteerism is a tool for social cohesion hence people who have volunteered to promote development in the country must be recognized and appreciated.
He also entreated individuals to shun politics and focus interest on developmental issues since politics cannot save anybody.
Commenting on the theme for the celebration; "Volunteering, A Critical Tool for Achieving the Millennium Development Goals", Mr. Ashigbey said the task of protecting human dignity and achieving noble goals such as eradicating poverty and hunger, intolerance and discrimination will be impossible without the dedication of volunteers.
He however was at a loss why the youth of today shy away from volunteerism. He said most people prefer to go into volunteering just to acquire wealth. That, he said, cannot be right.
The President of the Coalition of Volunteering Organizations Ghana (COVOG), Pastor Chris Nyame who was represented by the National General Secretary of the Ghana Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), Mr. Kwabena Nketia-Addae said volunteerism creates a sense of cohesion and solidarity within society and builds social capital by converting individual action into collective action directed towards a social end.
It also allows for social mobilization and organization within communities and offers a means for people to show their value and to reaffirm that they have an important place in society.
Despite these laudable roles, Mr. Nketia who also doubled as chairman for the function, was at a loss why volunteerism within society seems to have found its way to the back seat.
He said the spirit of volunteerism which was so common years ago is no more. He commended government for the support it had offered COVOG through the National Youth Authority.
Deputy National Coordinator of the National Youth Authority, Mr. Prince Derek Adjei in his address expressed government commitment to ensuring that volunteers get the necessary support.
He acknowledged the support of United Nations Volunteer and United nations Development Programme towards the good work being undertaken by COVOG and for that matter volunteering and called on other Civil Society Organizations to support volunteerism.
The Deputy Country Director of UNDP (Programmes), Mr. Jeremias Blaser in his welcome address said volunteerism does not happen once in a lifetime but continues to the end of life so all must get involved.