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Mr. Paul Evans Aidoo, the Western Regional Minister, has appealed to the media to devote time to development issues rather than concentrating on political issues. He said journalists must initiate debate in areas such as agriculture, education, roads, health and sanitation that impact positively on the people and not direct attention on personalities. Mr. Aidoo was interacting with journalists and selected Heads of Departments in the Region at Sekondi aimed at strategizing and finding ways to chart a new development paradigm for the Region. The Minister said �Western Region belongs to all of us and our posture should be devoid of biases and partisanship,� adding that the airwaves dominated with politics had the tendency to result in division rather than progress. He appealed to the media to collaborate with Metropolitan, Municipal and Districts Assemblies for relevant information and expressed concern over concentration on oil and gas issues by some non-governmental organisations to the neglect of other sectors of the economy. Mr. Aidoo said he was not happy about the emerging phenomenon of putting up of structures without building regulations and pledged the Regional Coordinating Council�s support to the Metropolitan Assembly to demolish illegal structures as well as decongesting the twin-city. The Minister also called on the media to join the �War� against illegal mining which was polluting water bodies and a threat to marine life. The RCC, he said, has from January to date had awarded 23 high way projects, 35 new feeder roads, 11 community water projects and six new school projects. Mr. Moses Aklorbortu, the Western Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association, expressed gratitude to the RCC for opening their doors to the media and said as partners, the media would work in progressing the region and the country as a whole. He urged key officials at the MMDAs to cooperate and release information to the media to enhance their reportage.