By Rebecca Ekpe
Executives of the Ghana Journalists Association, led by its President Albert Dwumfour have paid a courtesy call on the information minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah at his Office in Accra, where he impressed upon Journalists to take advantage of the Right to Information, RTI Law to promote access to information to enrich the everyday public discourse in Ghana.
The RTI Act 989, passed in 2019 empowers all persons to have access to information from public institutions and relevant private entities so as to promote a culture of transparency and accountability.
Besides the issue with access to information, Mr. Dwumfour and Mr. Oppong Nkrumah discussed an array of matters pertaining to capacity building, Safety of Journalists, welfare and state of Journalism in Ghana today, as well as the way forward for the GJA.
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah said he was happy to see the team, “hit the ground running’’, while congratulating the new Executives, he drew attention to the task ahead in ensuring that the GJA remained a relevant body with oversight for Journalists in Ghana.
GJA President Albert Dwumfour outlined the Association’s vision and pointed out the cordial relationship the Association has had with the Ministry, hoping that the relationship would be enhanced for the benefit of the Ghanaian Media.
‘’We are counting on the same support given to our predecessors, and we are ready to work together towards a common goal and for the welfare of Journalists’’, the GJA President reiterated.
Accompanying the GJA President were Vice President, Linda Asante-Agyei, Organising Secretary, Dominic Hlodzi, General Secretary, Kofi Yeboah and Rebecca Ekpe, Public Affairs Officer.
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah was joined by his Deputy, Fatimatu Abubakar and Chief Director at the Ministry, Mrs Mamle Andrews.
The meeting with Mr. Oppong Nkrumah is the second formal interaction with the Sector Minister since the new National Executives of the Ghana Journalists Association were sworn into office on June 30th 2022. The first interaction with the Sector Minister was at Aburi in August 2022 during the start of a retreat by the GJA Leadership.
