Reliable information key to development
Gilbert Boyefio
28/07/2006
A renowned diplomat and statesman, K B Asante has observed that the key to the country's development is reliable and undiluted information from policy makers to the populace.
He said reliable information should help authorities to decide which area of production or services they may give priority to so that the economy may grow fast to speed up national development and lift the country from unnecessary poverty. He said at the lowest level, reliable information should help the populace to understand national policies and thereby play their full part in its implementation for national development.
Mr Asante said this at the official launching of Page X emergency and info- news directory, in Accra Wednesday. He said, unfortunately, in the high realms of national affairs, ignorance makes unadulterated information of dicey value, and therefore those in authority are cautious in making information available. He said sometimes these officials go to the extreme of telling half- truths and lies, thereby confusing the people and as a result promoting unnecessary opposition to good government policies.
"For example, if we agitate against increase in petroleum prices, we should be given correct and reliable information about the increase that will make us understand and accept the increase with glee or pain," he said. He stated that the worst that could be done is to fan out half truths in the name of politics.
Mr Asante said even measures intended to ease the plight of the people may impede development if the appropriate information is not carefully disseminated.
He cited the Capitation Grant for schools as an example of a good measure intended to promote education development going awry. He noted that the grant has tremendously helped to increase school enrolment, but lack of reliable and adequate information has resulted in difficulties.
He said many parents and guardians will now not contribute a pesewa to provide what is needed in the schools because they believe government is providing everything. "Unreliable information has changed the willingness of parents and PTA's to contribute to education," he added.
He said knowledge is expanding so fast that only a fool believes he knows everything, even in his own special field; therefore, even authorities must be humble enough to enquire from experts on a subject they are not well informed on. Information should be based on facts and knowledge. "We should enquire, analyse facts and demand reliable information always," he added.
He said the launching of Page X will help to address these problems as it contains important information on issues of national importance such as NHIS, Services, Nation- wide emergency numbers, SSNIT, and info- news directory.
The publisher, Lovelace Addy, said it took him ten years to compile and publish the directory. He disclosed that he was inspired by the eagerness of a village boy to know more about issues like human rights which he heard being discussed on the airwaves.
"Most of the things we listen to on the airwaves and read in the print are half truths, I therefore took it upon myself to compile this directory to inform the uninformed and misinformed with the right information at the right time," he added.
28/07/2006
A renowned diplomat and statesman, K B Asante has observed that the key to the country's development is reliable and undiluted information from policy makers to the populace.
He said reliable information should help authorities to decide which area of production or services they may give priority to so that the economy may grow fast to speed up national development and lift the country from unnecessary poverty. He said at the lowest level, reliable information should help the populace to understand national policies and thereby play their full part in its implementation for national development.
Mr Asante said this at the official launching of Page X emergency and info- news directory, in Accra Wednesday. He said, unfortunately, in the high realms of national affairs, ignorance makes unadulterated information of dicey value, and therefore those in authority are cautious in making information available. He said sometimes these officials go to the extreme of telling half- truths and lies, thereby confusing the people and as a result promoting unnecessary opposition to good government policies.
"For example, if we agitate against increase in petroleum prices, we should be given correct and reliable information about the increase that will make us understand and accept the increase with glee or pain," he said. He stated that the worst that could be done is to fan out half truths in the name of politics.
Mr Asante said even measures intended to ease the plight of the people may impede development if the appropriate information is not carefully disseminated.
He cited the Capitation Grant for schools as an example of a good measure intended to promote education development going awry. He noted that the grant has tremendously helped to increase school enrolment, but lack of reliable and adequate information has resulted in difficulties.
He said many parents and guardians will now not contribute a pesewa to provide what is needed in the schools because they believe government is providing everything. "Unreliable information has changed the willingness of parents and PTA's to contribute to education," he added.
He said knowledge is expanding so fast that only a fool believes he knows everything, even in his own special field; therefore, even authorities must be humble enough to enquire from experts on a subject they are not well informed on. Information should be based on facts and knowledge. "We should enquire, analyse facts and demand reliable information always," he added.
He said the launching of Page X will help to address these problems as it contains important information on issues of national importance such as NHIS, Services, Nation- wide emergency numbers, SSNIT, and info- news directory.
The publisher, Lovelace Addy, said it took him ten years to compile and publish the directory. He disclosed that he was inspired by the eagerness of a village boy to know more about issues like human rights which he heard being discussed on the airwaves.
"Most of the things we listen to on the airwaves and read in the print are half truths, I therefore took it upon myself to compile this directory to inform the uninformed and misinformed with the right information at the right time," he added.
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