Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the 2008 elections, has underscored the importance of the Ghana News Agency (GNA) and the need to resource it to play its role effectively.
Speaking to the GNA in London at the premiere of a documentary on the life of Professor Kofi Abrefa Busia, former Prime Minister of Ghana, Nana Addo noted that those, who established the GNA had the vision of an agency that would “counter the negative international press about Ghana and tell the good story of the country to the world in a vigorous and consistent manner”.
“I believe that GNA is very important because it is not enough for politicians to tell Ghana’s story – it would have to take institutions like the GNA to tell our story more professionally and for that, I think the agency need to be well resourced to play that role more effectively,” he said.
He observed that since the inception of GNA, it had done well in telling the positive story of Ghana, even in the face of resource constraints.
“One of the things on my heart is to see a well resourced Ghana News Agency playing its role as the mouthpiece of the state and bringing captivating stories of our progress as a people from all corners of the country,” he said.
He said a well resourced GNA would do the “country a great deal of good with regards to putting out such information about Ghana that would attract investment and goodwill from around the world”.
The premiere of the two-hour documentary titled “The Prof – a man remembered” took place at the British House of Commons, under the auspices of Madam Diane Abbott, the first black woman member of the British Parliament.
It was written, produced and directed by Akosua Busia and Dr. Abena Busia, both daughters of Prof. Busia and sponsored by the Busia Foundation.
Nana Addo said when given the nod to be president of Ghana in January 2009, he would continue to promote the aspects of democracy that ensures that the masses enjoyed the freedoms won for them through the struggles of the fathers of the country.
Nana Addo noted that the first showing of the Busia documentary in the British House of Commons was significant for two contradictory reasons – that the House of Commons represented the hub of liberty for the British and also the source of bondage for the British colonies.
He said Prof. Busia in his life time, sought for freedom from external powers and internal tyranny in Ghana at the time, and so it was not far fetched that the premiere of his life documentary took place in the hub of the external power “he sought our freedom from”.
The premiere was attended by contemporaries of Prof. Busia as well as his sibling and that of his deceased colleagues.
Source: MJFM
