By: Rebecca Ekpe
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister of Information has impressed upon Journalists to change the narrative about the low turnout that has characterized Ghana’s District Level Elections over the years.
Speaking with Senior Editors in Accra at a media Engagement organized by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to herald the District Level Elections scheduled for December 19, 2023, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah said a lot has been said in the past about low turn-out to the Local polls, but this narrative can change to propel the positive impact of the Decentralization and District Level governance to the people.
He said this can be achieved if the Media recalibrates the conversation and discusses the processes of the polls and also provides education on the fundamentals of the local government structure and its benefit to the people.
‘’The media must be seen as a partner in the development agenda’’, the Minister noted.
He explained that the Local Government structure is the most important governance system for the people and ‘’the media must whip up interest and help citizens to focus their attention on the processes and its benefits to them.
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah spoke of how some citizens within Communities rely on their Assembly Representations and Unit Committee Members to get informed of developmental issues in their localities, issues of health, sanitation, etc. which are the core of the very existence of the people, citing a case in Ofoase.
He insisted that the media have a responsibility to support the State in providing information to citizens on their civic calling, as Ghana heads to the Polls on Tuesday, December 19, 2023 to elect their District Assembly Representatives and Unit Committee Members for the next four years.
