Mr. Graham Hanlon, World President of Junior Chamber International (JCI), an organization that provides opportunities for young people to develop leadership skills and social responsibilities on Thursday urged the media to help promote awareness of community activities. He said the can do this by giving greater coverage to development issues to encourage citizens’ participation in governance. He noted that openness, accountability and trust in the country’s democratic process would maximize citizens’ participation in governance and the media had an important role to play in the achievement of a participatory decision making process. He said in an election year, for instance, there was the need for citizens to be actively involved in the decision-making process and stressed the need for volunteerism in any successful democracy. Mr Hanlon was speaking at the maiden lecture organized by the JCI Ghana Chapter, on the theme; “Active Citizenship”. He noted that the active role of people and organizations in the decision making process directly impacted on the economic, social and political power in pursuit of shared goals. “Active citizenship is for the individual, government, business, media and trades unions,” he said, and urged members of the JCI to educate people in their communities about active citizenship to help bring change in society as a whole. He further urged government to play its role even though he admitted that government alone could not enhance participation in a given country or society. Government should introduce a national active citizenship programme where people who had contributed immensely to civic life would be rewarded, he said. “Without the practice of civic virtue and without active participation by citizens, civil society cannot operate in a sustainable way,” Mr Hanlon said. Mrs. Ruby Mensah, National President of JCI, urged Ghanaians to be actively involved in the decision-making process by voting in this year’s elections on December 7. She said research she had conducted showed that many people were indifferent about voting and noted that was not good for Ghana’s democracy. Giving information about the JCI, Mrs. Mensah said the organization had four local chapters. Its objectives include contributing to the advancement of the global community by developing young people in the areas of leadership, social responsibilities, fellowship and entrepreneurship which, she said, was necessary to create positive change in any society. Source: GNA