The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Opoku-Manu, has urged media practitioners in the region to collaborate with the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) to enhance the peace and security of the region. He said the region had been adjudged the most peaceful in 2009 by security experts, and noted that building on that significant achievement demanded the full support of the media. Speaking at an end-of-year soiree organised by the Regional Co-ordinating Council (CRC) for media practitioners at the Residency in Kumasi, Mr Opoku-Manu said the peace enjoyed by the region enabled the district assemblies and the government to initiate development projects that were impacting positively on the lives of the populace. He, however, noted that more needed to be done to portray a positive image of the region and avoid the creation of a chaotic situation or sowing the seeds of confusion among the populace. "Violence in any form could undermine the peace and development of this great region and we have to work to prevent it from occurring," he stressed. The minister commended the media for contributing in diverse ways to promote peace among residents in the region. He pointed out that the contribution of the media had not only created the enabling environment for the business community to operate in a peaceful atmosphere, but had also made it possible for the youth to focus on their academic programmes to acquire employable skills. Mr Opoku Manu said it was very important for the media to continue with their reportage and avoid negative tendencies. He said it was also important for them to collaborate with the regional administration to initiate programmes that would make the region attractive to investors. Mr Opoku Manu said the media had not done enough to promote the positive sides of the region and make it attractive to investors. "You should initiate programmes that would paint a good picture about the region because there are a lot of positive programmes that go unreported by the media in the region," he complained. He said since the region topped population, figures, and also had the highest number of district assemblies and constituencies in the country, it stood to gain from huge budget allocations and projects that could enhance accelerated socio-economic development if the media regularly highlighted how unique it was. "Politically, Ashanti also has a lot to offer the country because it determines the political fortunes of every political party in every election," he noted. Source: Daily Graphic/Ghana