By Jibril Abdul Mumuni
Accra, Oct. 2, GNA – The National Media Commission (NMC) says it will offer the necessary support to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) to deliver on its digital transformation as it pursues its mandate and thrive in the modern media landscape.
Professor Akua Opokua Britwum, the Chairperson of the NMC, gave the assurance during a familiarisation visit by the Commission to the headquarters of the national news agency in Accra.
The visit was to understand the operations, vision, and challenges of the Agency and to discuss the way forward.
The visit followed similar trips to other state-owned media organisations, notably the New Times Corporation Times and the Graphic Communications Media Group.
The delegation from the NMC included representatives from the respective associations and bodies that constitute the Commission.
The Chairperson was accompanied by Mr. Cecil Sunkwa-Mills, representing the Association of Private Broadcasters, Mr. Mahama Shaibu, representing Parliament, Mrs. Abena Annobea-Asare, National Council on Women & Development. Mr. Kobby Asmah and Mr Edmund Kofi Yeboah, both representing Ghana Journalists Association.
Others are Ms. Eva Okyere, who represented the Ghana Bar Association; Ernest Owusu Addo – Publishers and Owners of Private Press and Hajj Muhammad Amir Kpakpo Addo, representing the Federation of Muslim Councils and Ahmadiyya Mission.
Following a presentation by the GNA management and a tour of the head office building, now under renovations, Prof. Britwum described the visit as “thoughtful” and said the Commission was excited about the structure, innovation, and staff commitment observed.
The African Development Bank is funding the renovations alongside three other offices of the Agency.
It is also sponsoring capacity building programmes and provision of some equipment and vehicles under a five-year grant agreement with the Government.
“We are looking forward to a more structured discussion where GNA puts together a document, presents to us, and we sit down and discuss what it is that is required, what we need to follow, together with timelines, and who we need to bring on board,” she stated.
Prof. Britwum highlighted the importance of GNA’s transition into multi-platform content delivery, noting that content went beyond print to include audio and video.
She charged the management to leverage digitisation for content delivery and digitisation to preserve its valuable archives for researchers and the public.
“We are very impressed about the commitment of staff and the enthusiasm with which you work, despite the challenges that you have presented,” she said.
She, however, emphasised the need for a comprehensive approach to financing the Agency, moving beyond the singular issue of Internally Generated Fund (IGF) retention to a broader national conversation on what the nation wanted from the GNA and how to ensure its independence and sustainability.
She said the state media provided public service, which was critical for national development, hence the need to resource them adequately.
The National Media Commission established by the 1992 Constitution has several leading mandates, which include insulating the state-owned media from governmental control.
GNA
Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong