Accra (Greater Accra) 24 March ?99
The Chinese Embassy on Wednesday presented computers and accessories worth 54 million cedis to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra as emergency relief. The equipment is made up of six computers, five printers, two UPS (uninterruptible power supplies), five air conditioners and five television sets. The computer system of the GNA, the first news media to be computerised in the country, broke down in November 1997 making its operations very slow and cumbersome.
Mrs Rebecca Adotey, a Deputy Minister of Communications, in her first public assignment since her appointment this month, received the equipment on behalf of the agency, from Mr Li Zupei, the Chinese Ambassador. Mrs Adotey thanked the Chinese for their timely intervention and said government will continue to assist the agency to maintain its pinnacle role as the nation's leading news gatherer and disseminator. Mrs Adotey congratulated members of staff who have kept the agency going in spite of the ageing equipment and high staff turn-over.
"You need to be recognised and congratulated for your loyalty and dedication. Some of you have worked hard and the GNA has made its mark."
"You will soon see some slight improvement especially in terms of your condition of service for those of you who have worked hard.
"Communication has become global, and there is the need to give efficient, accurate and impartial news to the outside world, and we believe GNA would continue to play its role as the overall information disseminator for Ghana."Mrs Adotey said.
Mr Li said Ghana and China have enjoyed a long tradition of friendship in politics, economics, culture and now in news and information He noted that last year the GNA and Xinhua news agency of China signed a news exchange agreement and said this co-operation will be strengthened. Mr Sam Quaicoe, General Manager, GNA, said the donation marks another milestone in the bid to rescue organisation from collapse. The equipment will help to accelerate work at the agency by curbing delays caused by reporters and sub-editors queuing for work stations. "Our operations will go up by a substantial margin". Mr Quaicoe said the agency urgently needs a communication server to be able to receive and reach its subscribers on time. "With enhanced working tools, we can assure you that we shall be able to stand on our own in no time. We shall not die on our feet." One of the strategies adopted by the agency to make it viable was a website to ensure that GNA becomes a one stop site where all relevant news and information for the Ghanaian public can be found, he said.
The General Manager called on all subscribers to show appreciation by crediting the agency with all stories used. "It is a condition for the sale of our product and also a requirement of the ethics of our profession."
