Govt will resource GNA to be more effective - Nana Dokua

The Ministry of Information would work with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) to position the wire service as the reference point for timely, critical and credible news towards national and continental development. 

The Deputy Minister of Information in charge of Agencies, Nana Ama Dokua Asiamah-Agyei, who gave the assurance, urged the management of the GNA to formulate clear and realistic targets and reorient itself to meet the modern demands of news subscribers.

Office visit

She disclosed this last Tuesday when she paid a familiarisation visit to the GNA to kick-start the process of revamping the Agency towards fulfilling its mandate.

The GNA was set up on the eve of Ghana’s independence to process and disseminate credible and accurate information from the African perspective to foster national cohesion and development; and to prosecute the African unity agenda for its development agenda.

However, the GNA’s fortunes have dwindled as a result of financial and technological challenges, poor remuneration and high staff attrition.

“We believe in the vision, the mandate and the prospects of the GNA and we are willing to help in the best possible way. But it is important this neutral source of important credible news does not become a silent force, otherwise it won’t serve its purpose in nation building.

“In this era of competitive media, the GNA must be more progressive and strategise to work in an effective manner that would make its compelling stories visible in all the major news platforms in Ghana and beyond,” Nana Ama Dokua said. 

Revamping agencies

She said revamping and resourcing all the agencies under the ministry was the primary goal on the agenda of the sector Minister, Mr Mustapha Hamid.

It was just in order, she explained, that the government would be convinced that the intended investments would yield positive outcomes.

Nana Ama Dokua, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akropong, said the ministry would like to be part of the history of the GNA as the primary and most authentic source of news items to all media houses.

She congratulated the staff of the Agency for their commitment and loyalty in keeping the agency afloat despite its numerous challenges.

Staff welcome

The staff welcomed the goodwill message from the government and urged the ministry to save them from the anguish and depression that they faced in working with virtually nothing.

The acting General Manager of the GNA, Mr Rex Annan, expressed gratitude to the deputy minister and pledged to collaborate with the ministry in the common interest of all stakeholders and the nation.