NGO LAUDS TAMALE MEDIA FOR THEIR PROFESSIONALISM (PAGE 29)

THE Management of the Christian Children’s Fund of Canada (CCFC), a Tamale-based international non-governmental organisation (NGO), has commended media practitioners in the Tamale metropolis for exhibiting a high sense of professionalism in their reportage over the years.
According to the Vice-President of CCFC in-charge of Marketing and Communications in Canada, Madam Carol Froom, “I am very impressed by the high standards of journalism exhibited in your reportage, particularly on matters relating to the development of the area. In fact, we often send your stories out to Canada to our 40,000 supporters and share your great work on our website,” she further stated.
Madam Froom made the commendation at a press soiree the CCFC organised in Tamale for media practitioners.
It was aimed at promoting the rate of interaction between the staff of the CCFC and media practitioners in the area to help accelerate development in the north, among other objectives.
The vice-president further indicated that she was “overwhelmed by the good coverage you have been giving to CCFC in Ghana”.
She announced a number of interventions provided to various communities in the NGO’s operational areas in the country.
They include the provision of teaching and learning materials to 7,500 children in 42 project schools every academic year.
“Health and nutrition assessments are conducted every six months for 20,250 enrolled children in 54 schools; over 5,028 children are given one hot lunch a day in 28 schools,” Madam Froom further stated.
In the area of micro-enterprise development, she said 2,180 clients had received loans, ranging from $40 to $250 (Canadian) to start and expand their income-generating activities.
“Our goal is to attract more interest and resources to help the people of Ghana to develop their full potential; specifically we want to support such areas as water and sanitation, health and nutrition, education and small scale enterprises,” Madam Froom added.
The Country Director of CCFC, Mrs Sanatu Nantogma, said the media in the north had been playing a significant role in advocacy initiatives for the deprived communities.
The Northern Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Alidu Baba, said the encounter would further help to deepen “our existing cordial relationship with your outfit”.
He gave the assurance that the media in the region would continue to support civil society groups and NGOs in the fight against ignorance, poverty and disease.
“We are aware of the numerous interventions the CCFC has provided to communities and I entreat other organisations to foster closer ties with the media to promote advocacy and better service delivery for the rural poor, ” Mr. Baba further stated.