The New Ghanaian Newspaper carves a firm niche for itself in the USA after 10yrs

The New Ghanaian; one of the most consistent Ghanaian Newspapers in the USA celebrated its 10th year of existence at a Banquet and Awards Night at the Hilton in Springfield Virginia on the weekend of November 19, 2011. Ambassador Kabral Blay-Amihere, head of Ghana’s National Media Commission was the special guest of honor at the event.Speaking at the event, Ghana’s former Ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire and High Commissioner to Sierra Leone was full of admonition for The New Ghanaian newspaper and the milestone it has chalked by being a credible news source for happenings among Ghanaians and non Ghanaians alike in and out of the USA.

The Media Commissioner was full of admiration for the paper’s founder; Joseph Vanderpuye and its current managing editor, Emmanuel Gamor and asked that they be given the necessary encouragement and support by the Ghanaian community in the USA and continued support by all who have supported and affiliated with the paper since the past decade.

Ambassador Kabral Blay-Amihere proceeded to shift his address to highlight happenings in the Ghanaian Media today. The National Media Commission president speaking with authority as the leader of a body tasked with defending and promoting press freedoms in Ghana and also regulating the country’s media was full of criticisms for so called ‘serial callers’ to radio programs in Ghana. These are people who are paid to call in to talk radio programs in Ghana to either incite or promote a particular individual or group’s interest irrespective of the negative outcomes their sometimes reckless actions occasionally incite.

Ghana’s peaceful fabric must not be taken for granted by the freedoms that the press and people of the country enjoys today the Ambassador said. Actions by such ‘serial callers’ have the potential to incite and inflame the masses because these callers have access to a very power tool–the media! When one looks across the African continent today, it has been established that wars in countries like Rwanda, Kenya and Cote d’Ivoire have all seen their respective media being the catalyst in the commencement of such atrocities as were witnessed in these referenced nations.

With national elections approaching in Ghana, the National Media Commission finds its self bearing the arduous responsibility of ensuring that the country’s media is well regulated in such a way that does not limit press freedoms and yet guarding against irresponsible media with the little resources at its disposal. The lack of resources is a matter that needs to be addressed by Ghana and the International community in a timely enough fashion to allow the Media Commission of Ghana execute its responsibilities appropriately so as to help ensure a free, transparent, peaceful and fair elections in Ghana.

Turning his eyes back on The New Ghanaian newspaper, Kabral Blay-Amihere described it as being educative, entertaining and informative and has not only been able to achieve its purpose of serving the Ghanaian community, but also done well in incorporating the West African community in the USA to be a beneficiary of its service. Ambassador Blay-Amihere also commended Sunlight Radio, also affiliated to The New Ghanaian for equally mirroring the newspaper in the objective to serve not only the Ghanaian community, but the entire African neighborhood currently in the USA.

In Mr. Kabral Blay-Amihere’s opinion, The New Ghanaian newspaper has over the past decade succeeded in not just projecting the core values of newspapering by being of service to the community, but has also become an inspiration to all who seek to embark on respective entrepreneurial or business enterprises that hard work, perseverance and focus coupled with motivation definitely yields positive results over time. The Ambassador called on the community to continually support the paper to enable it replicate the feat it has chalked again come the next decade.

Jacqueline Koffi-Osabutey of the State of Georgia’s Department of Community Health Office of Health Information Technology who was in Washington DC for the 2011 Annual Office of National Coordinator Grantee Meeting also attended the tenth anniversary celebrations of The New Ghanaian Newspaper and described the Ambassador Blay-Amihere address as being on point.

Jacqueline who has personally interacted with the Ghanaian community in various occasions in Georgia and from recent visits to the country this year said she is highly impressed by how the occasion was organized and she will have many fond memories of it for her professional colleagues in Georgia and her numerous friends in and from Ghana.

Jim Nickell has been printing The New Ghanaian newspaper ever since its inception. The managing editor of the paper, Emmanuel A. Gamor, joined forces with its owner and publisher; Joseph Vanderpuye to establish Media Afrika LLC which has grown to include an online edition for the newspaper now affiliated to an online radio station when Clarence D. Robert partnered with the paper to launch Sunlight Radio America LLC in 2010. The paper is published and distributed freely on a monthly basis in the Maryland, DC, Virginia metro areas and 20 other States in the USA with the long term aspiration to covering the entire North America.