Mr Paul Adu-Gyamfi, Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), on Wednesday pointed out that good journalism sells and, therefore, lauded the practice of high quality journalism by the Ghana News Agency.
He said there were many decent Ghanaians, who wanted decent information, decent entertainment and enlightening media content that helped them to reflect on the state of the nation.
"Ghana needs good journalism now," Mr Adu-Gyamfi said when he inaugurated the Board of Directors of the Ghana News Agency in Accra.
The Ghana News Agency, he said, had a unique asset, which was the credibility of its news and asked if the GNA could do anything to help to improve the quality of news aired on FM stations across the country.
"I have heard several comments among journalists in Ghana to the effect that good credible news does not sell. If that were true, it would mean that GNA would not make financial progress by its insistence on quality. I tend to differ," he said.
Mr Adu-Gyamfi tasked the members of the new Board of Directors to consider options that would make GNA to improve upon their organizational fortunes, expressing the hope that the new Board would continue to help the Agency to attain new heights.
Dr Akuamoah Boateng Kwaku Anane, a member of the old Board of Directors, who spoke on behalf of Mr Rex Owusu Ansah, outgoing Board Chairman, said the out-going Board had to grapple with many challenges that threatened to draw back the Agency.
He said these ranged from operational difficulties arising from inadequate budgetary allocation; lingering labour dispute to very low salaries resulting in high staff attrition.
He said the old Board kept an eye on the Agency's re-engineering initiative under the Public Sector Reform Programme. Under the Programme 500,000 dollars was earmarked to carry out selected activities in a proposed work plan, which is being implemented.
Dr Anane stressed that GNA required a huge dose of capital to be able to implement the work plan, which formed the basis of the Agency's business plan hence welcoming the decision of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to allow GNA to retain and utilize 50 per cent of its Internally Generated Funds (IGF).
He said old the Board proposed 100 per cent retention of the IGF and expressed the hope that Parliament would ratify the proposal.
Dr Anthony Bonnah Koomson, Chairman of the New Board, lauded the role of the GNA in Ghana's media development, but acknowledged that there were a lot of challenges the new Board had to deal with.
He said: "We will bring our expertise, strength and experience to bear on the work of the Agency," and urged the staff to "see us as people who have come to serve to help GNA to achieve its vision".
Dr Bonnah koomson said: "We will operate an open-door policy to reach out to every staff member of the Agency."
Nana Appau Duah, General Manager of GNA, said the role of the Agency in the media landscape in Ghana and beyond was significant and that without the Agency most private newspapers and radio stations would not get news to use.
He praised the Agency for its continual fair and accurate reportage and said the Management and staff looked forward to cooperating with the new Board members for further improvement of GNA.
GNA thrives on its core values of accuracy; fairness; objectivity and reliability in news delivery, the General Manager said.
The GNA was established on March 5, 1957, the first wire service to be established in Sub-Saharan Africa, with the aim of harnessing the information arm of the State for national development. The Agency has about 100 media houses subscribing to its bulletins.
Nana Appau Duah said the GNA, unlike other media houses in Ghana, was unique in its quality, scope and reach, and enjoyed both local and international credibility.
He said GNA had a strong presence in all the 10 regions in Ghana and in some 17 districts. The Agency carries out its activities with the support of some 300 stringers (part-time reporters) scattered all over the country.
Other members of the new Board are: Mr Robert William Hrisir-Quaye; Ms Ajoa Yeboah Afari; Bishop Samuel Vagalas Kanco; Madam Sedina Tamakloe Atienu; Mr Kwadwo Xerxes Ahlijah and Nana Appau Duah, General Manager of the Agency.
The other outgoing members are: Mr Musah Abdulai, Mrs Gina Blay, Mrs Agatha Gaisie-Nketiah and Dr Kofi Oti Adinkrah.