The Editor of the Ghanaian Times, David Agbenu, has urged security agencies in the country to deepen their relations with the media to enable them to garner the needed support in the discharge of their duties.
He observed that some law enforcement institutions did not allow flow of information to facilitate the work of journalists, although the media was considered as a stakeholder in the maintenance of law and order.
Mr Agbenu expressed this sentiment when Chief Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Prisons Service (GPS), Superintendent Courage Atsem and other officials from his unit paid a courtesy call on the editor on Wednesday.
The visit was to formally introduce key officials of the Public Relations Unit following a reshuffling last year.
Mr Agbenu commended the service for opening up, in recent times, and urged them to take advantage of the advent of social media to communicate with its stakeholders, including the media.
“We must know what happens in the prisons. Inasmuch as they are serving sentences for offences they committed. They have rights that must be protected”, he said.
According to Mr Agbenu, the provision of information on what transpired in the prisons would help stakeholders contribute to ongoing reforms to improve conditions of prisoners and aid the reformation process.
According to Mr Agbenu, the newspaper stood ready to play its role as a stakeholder in maintenance of peace and security, saying, “we are proving public service and will provide the needed support but bear with us when we falter.”
On his part, Superintendent Atsem acknowledged the important role the media played in their work and commended Ghanaian Times for being a partner over the years.
He pledged to solidify the existing relations between the two parties, noting that the visit was part of deliberate steps in that direction.
BY JONATHAN DONKOR
