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The Minister for Information and Media Relations Designate, Mr Mahama Ayariga has dispelled the notion that the Ministry of Information should be scrapped in order to allow the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to recruit their own Public Relations Officers. He disclosed that there should be constant information flow about government policies and programmes, since it�s the vision of the President to ensure that the citizenry rally behind his policies for a holistic participation. Mahama Ayariga said these yesterday when he appeared before the Appointment Committee of Parliament. He promised to resource the Agencies under the Ministry of Information especially the Information Services Department (ISD) and build the capacity of its staff in order to effectively communicate government policies and programmes to the public and vice versa. He said the Ministry of Information should serve as the central coordination place between all public relations departments of government offices for effective coordination to ensure the flow of information within government agencies. Mr Mahama Ayariga also said he would pay attention to the development of the immense potential of the ISD adding that the vision of the government is to development media capacity. He also described the Ghana News Agency (GNA) as one of credible media institution with the best expertise for gathering information and reporting accurately, adding it will be tooled and resourced to enable them perform their functions effectively. Touching on the media development fund, he debunked criticisms that the fund was to influence journalists and undermine the independence of the media and assured that the fund will be used to build the capacity of media practitioners to be able to perform their professional duties creditably. He urged the National Media Commission (NMC) and the Ministry of Information to work in partnership to find a middle ground that would ensure that the fund was not used to stifle media independence. On the draft Broadcasting Bill, he stated that is a framework that will regulate the operations of the media as well as build a solid relationship between the Ministry and the NMC. On his part, Minister Designate for Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini , promised to make small scale mining a preserve of Ghanaians. He said, he will ensure a system of registration which will be less cumbersome to enable interested persons to register and embark on legal galamsey operations. He assured that government will continue with the Accra land re-development policy in a transparent manner devoid of abuses. On the payment of compensations to land owners, the nominee promised to conduct a detailed survey and assessment of the land situation in the country especially, public lands and pay compensations to land owners who have not been paid for the release of their lands. Alhaji Inusah Fuseini observed that the Ministry would develop a town and country planning policy to ensure zoning is done to support industrial and agricultural activities. He assured that Lands released would be demarcated properly and its use stated before being handed over to the buyer. Alhaji Inusah Fuseini also noted that attempts are being made to add value to natural resources adding that the Precious Mineral Marketing Company is adding value to gold. He promised that when given the nod, he would vigorously pursue value addition to mineral resources. He also said he would bring order into land administration in the country and also pursue the Accra re-development policy and lands will be put to effective and efficient use. So far four ministerial nominees were vetted by the Appointments Committee yesterday.