Desist from politicising national issues — Sam Pee Yalley
Journalists in the country have been asked to desist from politicising national issues but rather focus on issues that are of interest to the citizens.
That, when adopted, will secure an anti-corrupt regime and an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
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A former ambassador to India, Mr Sam Pee Yalley, said this during a maiden press conference organised by Young Professionals (YP), a group of professionals in the National Democratic Congress (NDC), on Wednesday in Accra.
“The danger of politicising every national issue will come to hunt us one day. We have political parties which are either in government or opposition; thus, the focus should be on the role of a present government to develop policies that will ensure the sustainability of our sovereignty and a country with responsible youth,” he added.
The conference was aimed at examining the performance and conduct of the government over the past 15 months in office.
Health Sector
Mr Yalley, however, reiterated that the “the duty of journalists and the public was to draw government’s attention to alternative policies that will have a united and healthy country."
“What we have to do as journalists is to change the narratives by finding solutions and desist from backing political parties,” he added.
On other national issues, he said the increased number of unemployed youth in the health sector could be solved by building specialised hospitals to promote medical tourism from which huge revenue could be generated.
“If we create such specialised hospitals, more jobs will be created, thus curbing the unemployment problem in the health sector,” he said.
He advised that monies that would be paid to health personnel on the Nation Builders’ Corps (NaBCo) initiative should be used as a medical capital to transform some hospitals across the country to generate revenue.
The General Secretary of the group, Mr Elikem Kotoko, delivering his speech stated that the present government had failed in achieving its themed manifesto, which states “Change, an Agenda for Job” and “Creating Prosperity and Equal opportunity for All.”
He explained that the NaBCO was a knee-jerk approach in dealing with a long-standing challenge, thus advised that to solve the issue of unemployment among nurses permanently, meant permanent facilities and employment.
He mentioned other areas the government had failed to address as the laying off of workers, political hooliganism, fighting corruption cases such as the Bulk Oil Storage and Transport (BOST), as well as fulfilling its manifesto promises.
He also asked the government to complete projects such as the Obestebi Lamptey Interchange at Kaneshie, the Ho dual carriage and the Pokuase Interchange all of which had been abandoned
Journalists' safety
Speaking on the recent assault of the female journalist from Adom FM who was slapped at the NPP’s headquarters by one Hajia Fati, he asked the government to publicly condemn the assault and ensure a legal closure on the matter.
“If the President, the government and the NPP truly believe in democracy as they pride themselves, it should not take them up to this time to issue a statement condemning the actions of Hajia, while lending support to the female reporter of Adom FM to ensure a legal closure on the matter.”
“It is surprising that the Gender Minister, Ms Otiko Afisa Djaba, has not commented on the assault to that effect but was quick to issue a disclaimer statement of an actress, Moesha Buduong’s comments,” he added.