Sunyani, May 18, GNA – The local media in the Sunyani Municipality, on Monday commended the leadership of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) for supporting Journalists in the fight against Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in the country.
“This crop of GJA leadership both at the national and regional levels is exceptional. We can feel the impact of the GJA at the local level. They are doing marvelously well and the local media must commend them”, said Mr Francis Owusu-Ansah, the General Manager of Nimdee FM.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani after the GJA distributed over 300 nose masks to the local radio stations, Mr. Owusu-Ansah said promoting the welfare of Journalists in the country ought to be government’s concern and a priority.
“I think this is what the leadership of the GJA is seeking to do and the government must strongly support them in that direction”, he added.
Virtually, the over 70 local FM stations in the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regions received quantities of the nose masks for onward distribution to Journalists and radio practitioners in the three regions.
Mr. Yaw Aboagye Boadi, the Manager of Space FM, thanked the GJA for the support and expressed the hope that the leadership of the Association would facilitate for government to provide stimulus packages to the local media leading the fight against the COVID-19.
He said the COVID-19 had slowed down and affected the financial base of the local media, saying “stimulus can provide us with good packages that will sustain us in business”.
Mr. Larry Paa Kwesi Moses, the Bono Bono East and Ahafo Regional Chairman of the GJA, said the Association was working hand-in-hand with the Bono Regional Coordinating Council and the Regional Health Directorate to ensure that the local media were updated on the COVID-19.
This would position Journalists well and enable them to report accurately on the COVID-19 and help in controlling the local spread as well.
Mr. Moses praised the local media for their contributions towards the fight against the disease so far, and advised Journalists to make professionalism a watchword and hallmark so that their reports would not stigmatise COVID-19 patients.
GNA