The Volta Regional Minister, Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo has called on citizens of the Volta region not to distance themselves from the development of the region but rather support efforts by the government to roll out developmental programmes that would inure to the benefit of the people. According to him, the region is lagging despite its numerous economic potentials and her rich human resources. “I feel Volta region is being cheated. The region has been neglected for far too long and I think the time has come for everybody including the media to bring their expertise to bear on developing the region”. Nii Afotey Agbo was addressing the media at a meeting organized by the Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) in Ho, to familiarize himself with media personnel working in the region. He stressed that as a Minister, he could not develop the region alone hence the need for all stakeholders including the media, to play their role efficiently to complement efforts by the government in achieving its development agenda. The Minister charged the media to demonstrate high sense of responsibility in the performance of their mandate and urged them to hold public officials accountable to the people, a move he stressed would deepen Ghana’s democratic dispensation. Nii Afortey Agbo also reiterated the point that the government under the leadership of President John Mahama would continue to create space for media freedom and expression noting that “our dear Ghana’s democracy requires that we keep Ghanaians united and also uphold our core values of peace, freedom and justice to promote national cohesion”. The Regional Minister used the occasion to pay tribute to the late President J. E. A. Mills for his efforts in extending development in education, health and agriculture sectors, to most parts of the Volta region. These he observed, had contributed to enhancing the socioeconomic well-being of the people. Nii Afotey Agbo who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Kpone in Accra, called for an aggressive and realistic development programme devoid of partisan politics to confront the development needs of the Volta region. “Let us listen to all ideas and should not be partisan about it. That is the only way to go,” he stressed. The Volta Region Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Mr. Victor Kwawukumey expressed worry about negative attitudes of some heads of departments and institutions against media practitioners in the region and recounted how he was put under police protection for at least 10 days as a result of a story he published. Mr. Kwawukumey appealed to practitioners not to be intimidated by such threats on their lives but be bold and report on issues accurately without fear, urging them to work within the ethics of the profession, which he noted was the only guiding principle of the profession.