Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the former Minister for Information, pressed the Ministry’s staff to continue to maintain and strengthen the media support initiatives launched during his term.
The Minister made a passionate plea for the continuation and expansion of the media support programmes, encouraging them to work closely with the incoming Minister, Fatimatu Abubakar, to ensure their sustainability, during a farewell address during a staff durbar at the Ministry’s premises on Friday, February 16, 2024.
“Do not turn your back on our media support programs. We need to support the public communications ecosystem continuously. It is necessary if we want the media and others to excel in our democracy,” he said.
As part of President Akufo-Addo’s significant Ministerial shake-up last Wednesday, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah announced his resignation to assume the position of Minister for Works and Housing. He emphasised the critical role these projects play in bolstering Ghana’s media landscape.
He used the Coordinated Mechanism for the Safety of Journalists (CMSJ) and the Media Capacity Enhancement Programme (MCEP) as two excellent examples of media assistance initiatives that require ongoing funding in order to function.
He commended the workshops for effectively delivering comprehensive training to more than 140 journalists from various media outlets around the country, giving them the know-how and abilities required to succeed in their line of work and guaranteeing the protection and safety of media practitioners.
In order to overcome the difficulties these media support programmes encounter, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah urged government institutions, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and the corporate sector to work together. He emphasised their crucial role in the nation’s democratic advancement and called for group effort to protect its efficacy and integrity.
Oppong Nkrumah urged staff to persevere even though he acknowledged the challenges in obtaining collaboration with other institution, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah urged staff to persist. “Keep pushing for more cooperation even when they aren’t responsive. We will get there eventually,” he said.
Furthermore, the Minister underlined the necessity of maintaining high research standards in order to give accurate and relevant input to the government. He stated that the Ministry already has a functional research department, which must be used to complete the government’s efforts to bring good governance to Ghanaians’ doorsteps.
Concluding his remarks on a personal note, the Minister applauded the staff for their efforts to make his stay at the Ministry a success and requested their ongoing support in carrying out the Ministry’s vital obligations.
