Ghana News Agency inaugurates Board
Ambassador Kabral Blay Amihere, Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), Monday said the Ghana News Agency (GNA) is more relevant today than before because of its vital role in the country’s democratic dispensation.
“Today’s expanded media and political landscape offers GNA a bigger market and greater significance,” he said at the inauguration of the GNA Board in Accra.
He said it was unfortunate that the fortunes of GNA, which was a model for other African countries which also established news agencies and which had offices in Nairobi, Lagos, London and even at the UN Headquarters in New York at its peak, had had its fortunes dwindling.
“The NMC was, therefore, conscious of where GNA is today and meticulously composed the new Board, which is chaired by Mr Reginald Laryea, an accomplished advertising executive, administrator and founder of his own successful company.”
Other members of the Board are Ms Shiela Menka, Mr Edmund Yirenkyi-Fianko, Ms Mamle Asare, Professor Atta Britwum, Ms Christaina Ajoa Osam Ansah and Mr Bernard Otabil, General Manager of GNA.
The NMC Chairman said in a competitive media landscape where media houses could not employ personnel across the length and breadth of the country, the GNA with its network of reporters and stringers nationwide, had the advantage and expertise for bringing news from every nook and cranny to Ghanaians.
He said successive Governments after that of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah had not given Ghana News Agency (GNA) the needed support because they failed to appreciate the vital role a strengthened GNA could play in Ghana’s democratic development.
He said government was duty bound to adequately resource GNA, and called on the media in the country to consider generating a public debate on their survival.
Mr Blay-Amihere admonished staff of the GNA to rally behind the Board and Management and put a stop to the infighting, saying the new framework for the affairs of state media did not tolerate issues that constituted a draw back of the progress of such media institutions.
The Minister of Information and Maedia Relations, Mr Mahama Ayariga earlier in his remarks noted that the role of the GNA could not be overemphasized, especially in news coverage and professionalism, and pledged government’s support to propel the GNA to greater heights.
Mr Bernard Otabil, General Manager of GNA, said though the GNA story could not be said to be interesting reading at all times, the Agency nonetheless still had a vital role to play in helping to mobilize the people for nation building, socio-economic development, national unity and integration and national image building.
“We still have the widest network of news and information gathering machinery across the country, which we want to develop to the extent that ‘any news item warranted by the initials GNA will find an unchallenged place in any newspaper of standing where ever it may be’ to borrow the words of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah of blessed memory.”
Mr Otabil said GNA would take advantage of the information age which had become the battleground for supremacy, and like government and other institutions help the nation to create an informed citizenry.
“The GNA under my watch will ensure that Ghanaians will be better informed about activities not just of their government but also other institutions and bodies that are important in their daily lives. The GNA would try to give voice to all strands of society in order to have a well-informed society whereby people can make the right choices”, Mr Otabil added.
In that regard the General manger said journalists working with the GNA would be equipped to develop their capacity to disseminate timely and relevant information in a more professional manner for the benefit of its numerous subscribers locally and internationally.
The Board Chairman, Mr Reginald Laryea observed that serving on the GNA Board was a challenging experience, but added that with a committed General Manager and dynamic Board members he hoped to see GNA become the best News Agency in Africa.
Mr Laryea who had previously also served as Chairman of the outgoing Board of the Agency, commended members of the previous Board for their devoted service to Ghana, and urged the new Board not to be swayed by unnecessary distractions but move forward in the right direction.
He also commended the Information and Media Relations Ministry for its support over the years, and called for the allocation of adequate resources to help turn the fortunes of the GNA around.
Source: GNA