Minister of Information visits two media organisations

Accra, March 9, GNA - Mrs. Zita Okaikoi, Minister of Information, on Monday paid a familiarisation visit to Graphic Communications Group Limited and New Times Corporation to observe their mode of operations and ascertain their problems.

The Minister was welcomed to the Graphic Communications Group Limited by Mr Ibrahim Awal, Managing Director, and conducted round the various sections of the Editorial Department.

Mr. Kwesi Asare General Manager, Marketing and Public Affairs, also led the Minister round other parts of the facility including the Graphic Packaging (G-PAC) Limited, which is the main subsidiary of the Graphic Communications Group Limited, and the printing press.

Mr. Charles Obeng Antwi, General Manager, G-PAC, told the Minister that the company had state of the art machines and equipment for all forms of commercial printing jobs.

Mrs. Okaikoi commended the Management and staff of Graphic for the long outstanding record of objectivity and hard work, especially during the December 2008 general elections.

She expressed satisfaction at their level of operation and said she would collaborate with the management to ensure that the company performed at its maximum to help create the needed impact in its pursuit to educate and inform the public on government policies and programmes. Mr Kofi Asuman, General Manager, New Times Corporation (NTC), said the corporation was currently in distress, having to compete with the host of newspapers currently on the news stands under unfavourable conditions.

He said the Corporation needed a replacement of most of their equipment and computers that were outmoded to facilitate news reporting and facilitate their ability to compete with other media organizations. Mr. Asuman appealed to the Minister to also support the Corporation in any other form that would enable it to meet its objective as a media organisation.

Mrs. Okaikoi was conducted round the various sections and departments including the Times Editorial, Weekly Spectator, Times Sports, Advertising Department and printing press.

The Minister pledged government's commitment towards ensuring that the Corporation stood on its feet to perform, saying the NTC was a credible organisation that should not be allowed to collapse. "We will later meet with the management to see how best to help improve your situation and also look at ways of strategising to ensure that the Corporation stands on its own feet to support its operations," she said.