Daily Graphic

Open up to Media

The banner story of the Daily Graphic quotes Dr. Robert Dodoo, Head of Civil Service as saying the times when civil servants denied information to the media because of the Civil Service Secrecy Act are over.

Under the heading: ?Open up to Media?, the Graphic story reports Dr. Dodoo saying that there is nothing to hide from the press and for that matter the general public, particularly so when people are now very conscious of their rights.

Answering questions at a news conference in Accra yesterday to launch activities marking this year's celebration of Africa Day of Administration and Civil Service said at a time that the Civil Service is undergoing reforms, its objectives would not be achieved if people are not rightly informed of its services.

"When you cultivate them (the media), talking to them and giving them the information, your problems are solved", Dr. Dodoo was quoted to have said.

The Graphic quotes Dr. Dodoo as saying further that his office sees media criticisms as a way of urging civil servants on to improve upon their services and therefore welcomes the criticisms.

In another front-page story, the Graphic reports a decline in inflation according to Government statistician, Dr. Oti Boateng.

According to the story, inflation went down from 10.2 in April to 9.4 per cent in May 1999 and Dr. Oti Boateng says it is the lowest since October 1985.

Dr. Oti Boateng, the paper says, attributed the fall to improved food supply in the country.

According to the story, analysts believe greater attention should be given to the agricultural sector to help keep inflation at single digit but they admitted that recent fuel price increases will impact adversely on inflation.

GRi