By Jesse Ampah Owusu, GNA
Accra, May 9, GNA – A delegation from The Gambia’s Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services on Friday concluded an understudy visit to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), committing to deepening collaboration to enhance operations.
The delegation was in Ghana for a 13-day visit from April 27 to May 9, 2026 as part of efforts to revive and strengthen The Gambia’s state news agency under the Department of Information Services.
It was led led by Madam Cordu L. Jabang, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry, and included Mr Madiba Sillah, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Information, Mr Ebrima A. Njie of the Department of Information Services, and other officials from the ministry and the news operations unit.
The team engaged with the GNA, the Information Services Department (ISD), the National Media Commission (NMC), and other relevant institutions within the media and information governance space.
Madam Jabang said the visit was inspired by the GNA’s longstanding reputation as one of Africa’s credible state news institutions and its strategic transformation over the years.
She said through the visits they had a renewed strategic direction to reposition their organisation for more effective public communication and national development.
Also, it helped them to assess how best to improve the delivery of accurate and relevant government-related information to citizens.
Madam Jabang commended the GNA for maintaining credibility in its news reportage over the years.
“One very important thing that stood out for us during the whole study tour and the visiting of institutions that we did was the fact that Ghana News Agency has built a credibility that stood out because anywhere you go, they talk about this institution very well.”
“I mean, we did not make a wrong choice in taking your institution to be a model that we would want to build our own revival of our news agency back home,” she added.
Madam Jabang said they would ensure that more institutions from The Gambia cooperated with other government institutions within Ghana.
She said Africa could develop if its countries learnt from each other and not borrow external values or norms that did not fit in their settings.
Mr Albert Kofi Owusu, the General Manager, GNA, emphasised the importance of collaboration in enhancing the operations of the two institutions.
He said the cooperation did not just strengthen the relationship between the two countries, but championed continental integration.
He urged African news agencies to work together to reduce information asymmetry and help the continent tell its own stories.
“We are focused on making sure news information becomes the bridge to harnessing the strengths of African countries, and that is something we should all work towards,” he added.
Mr Owusu said though the GNA had faced challenges over the years, it remained resilient in its position as a credible institution that did it work independently.
“GNA’s mandate is to report
accurately, fairly and credibly on national issues while projecting Ghana’s identity and correcting historical distortions of Africa by sections of the Western media,” he said.
Madam Beatrice Asamani Savage, Director of Editorial, said the Agency’s credibility was its greatest strength that had given it prominence over the years.
She emphasised GNA’s commitment to protecting its credibility at all times, urging the Gambian delegation to sustain the patriotism that guided their service and find greater value in serving the nation.
“Your coming here and choosing us encourages us that we do not have to let Africa down,” she added.
Mr Madiba Sillah said their visit was fruitful having had a firsthand experience of how Ghana’s national information system operated.
He said the experience was worthwhile, adding that they felt at home in Ghana due to the historical and social ties the two countries shared.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: Jesse Ampah Owusu