GNA Feature by Francis Ameyibor
Accra, Sept. 2, GNA – The Ghana News Agency over the past three years has hit a crossroad and needs immediate intervention to resuscitate it.
This could be done through injection of a more media professional climate to help it compete and new market opportunities.
GNA is still relevant to the wider national communication system but currently needs a strategic plan to nurture a new professional culture, the elaboration of a different business model, foresight in the provision of incentives and rewards for workers, and re-definition of the range of activities, possibly extending to multi-media strategies.
Staff of the Agency has therefore commended the Convention Peoples’ Party (CPP) Presidential Nominee, Mr Ivor Kobina Greenstreet for being the first to boldly state that the agency would form the basis of broad national communication strategy, if elected in the December 7 elections to form the next government.
The CPP has stated that is national communication policy, what is the stand of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and other political parties towards a vibrant media landscape?
Most often political parties use the media including the GNA to achieve their political ambitions, but fail to revamp, and retool the media.
Journalists are among the least paid professionals in the country, but they continue even at the peril of their life to serve the nation.
The GNA wants to hear dynamic strategy by the government to revamp the only wire service in the country set up by Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah on the eve of Ghana’s independence as part of a comprehensive communication policy that sought to harness the information arm of the state to build a viable and united nation-state.
Over the past three years operations at the Agency has taken a nose dive and its operational hours have been reduced drastically from 24/7 to less than 10/7.
Now the Agency is a pale shadow of itself.
GNA urgently needs the injection of modern communication gadgets, to replace the current obsolete and malfunctioning technology, vehicles and equipment; and strategic plan to attract and retain experienced professional staff.
ROLE OF THE AGENCY IN NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
In this context it is timely to review and possibly re-conceptualise the original mission of news agencies in a manner that fully acknowledges the wide range of their activities.
The Abirim Central Municipal Assembly, in a letter of commendation to the agency stated: ‘We appreciate the critical role the GNA has been playing by highlighting issues through the wider media network and the advisory roles offered through the observations made and the pieces of advices given which indeed keep us on our toes’.
Mr Anthony Kodjo Prah a Director of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture after an encounter with GNA stated: ‘GNA has not only brought to fore the agribusiness projects and programmes of the Ministry but it has also educated farmers, agricultural staff and the public on the agricultural sector.’
Mr Oppong Kyekyeku Kaakyire, District Chief Executive for Afigya Kwabre District Assembly also after consistent encounter with the rural approach and coverage GNA provided to the District said: ‘GNA has assisted in the transformation of the District and served as pre-audit tasked force officers whose constant focus on the district kept all on our toes.’
TOWARDS A NEW BUSINESS MODEL FOR GHANA NEWS AGENCY
Mr Robert Kafui Johnson, a former GNA General Manager stipulates that GNA needs to develop and strategically execute strategy to strengthen its relations with other media outlets, establish a progressive business culture with political authorities, public service and the constituent members of the ‘nation’, and between different media organisations.
Other new models articulated include a new management team with the ability and operational understanding to ensure that subscriptions and fees are tailored flexibly to whatever the client wants to use; and provide additional services for media and non-media clients to generate additional income in addition to the merger subscription fees.
Growing use of Internet for news production and delivery, with additional broadband requirements for reporters and clients of multi-media services; as well as integration of text, video, voice and data services; multi-lingual (many language services for different language communities) and multi-modal (all forms of expression are employed).
Lower distillation, that is to say, through the Internet, agencies encourage users to connect directly to sources; market orientation is both institutional and individual, with specialist and in-depth services for institutional clients and more standardised and general-interest services for individual clients; and high brand identity, nurtured by service image and quality.
GNA’s mission was to help build a viable, cohesive nation-state, however governments after governments have woefully failed to adequate provide the needed financial resources to retool the agency to perform its constitutionally mandated.
With such national spread, GNA is able to promote a viable, united nation by highlighting stories that engender development, integration and peace.
The GNA is instrumental in carrying messages, policies, plans and programmes to the people, including those in the remotest areas of the country.
GNA’s operations also give a voice to the vast majority of citizens living in rural areas, thereby promoting good governance and reducing the urban bias of news reportage.
In effect, GNA highlights the problems, desires, difficulties and aspirations of the public. Thus, matters of great importance are promptly brought to the attention of the government for action.
GNA has offices in all the regional and some district capitals, and also employs the services of stringers in many towns and villages.
STRUCTURE
GNA is spread throughout the country. Its Head Quarters is located in Accra with nine regional offices located at the regional capitals.
The regional offices serve as news gathering link between the headquarters and the districts and local communities. It also has about 300 stringers (part-time reporters) spread across the country.
GNA also serves as practical training centre for most of the countries journalism training institutions and has built a tradition since its birth as a strategic national asset that has the responsibility to maintain a cohesive nation-state, strengthen human rights, be the voice of the voiceless and to promote peace and stability.
The dissemination of the national agenda is one of its functions and has strong tradition of being an independent medium that has created the platform to all newsmakers to disseminate truthful unbiased and developmental news as its commitment to the growth of the culture of democracy in Ghana.
Previously, the government appointed senior executives but now appointments are now made by the National Media Commission GNA