Mr Kwasi Adu Gyan, the Bono East Regional Minister has given the assurance to support the Ghana News Agency (GNA to enhance its operations, particularly in the Bono East Region.

He acknowledged the significant role the GNA had played towards the development of the media landscape, not only in Ghana but also across the African continent over the years, noting that its nationwide and extensive media coverage towards holistic national development could not be over-emphasised.

Mr Gyan gave the assurance, when Nana Osei Kyeretwie, the Sunyani Regional Manager responsible for the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regions of the Agency called on him at his office in Techiman.

The visit, made possible by Mr. George Padmore Mensah, a Chief Director and the Regional Coordinating Director was to identify the GNA with the Regional Minister to assure the Agency's collaboration with Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) for dedicated, extensive and quality news coverage of the region for its accelerated development.

He observed the media generally had been a powerful tool for national development, saying since the advent of Ghana's fourth republic for almost three decades now, the media's contribution in shaping the national political and socio-economic discourse to promote national cohesion for enhanced livelihoods of the people had been phenomenal with the GNA playing a significant role.

Mr. Gyan expressed confidence in the GNA, stating that besides its pioneering role in news gathering and dissemination, it had helped successive governments with the publication of truthful, unbiased, credible and accurate news reportage to push forward the national development agenda.

In response to an appeal made earlier by the GNA's Regional Manager, the Regional Minister promised to assist the Agency with office accommodation and other necessary logistics to strengthen its capacity for effective and quality news coverage of the Bono East Region.

He expressed commitment to work with the GNA and other media organisations to champion his vision for the progress of the region.

Mr Gyan described the media as a major partner for the socio-economic development of the country and therefore encouraged practitioners to continue to support the RCC and decentralized departments in implementing government policies and programmes for the region's speedy progress.

Nana Kyeretwie congratulated Mr Gyan on his appointment as the second Regional Minister since the creation of the region and also commended him for his creativity and readiness to collaborate with all stakeholders for rapid social and economic development of the region.

He said the GNA was ready to partner the RCC, the Municipal and District Assemblies, the traditional councils, and other public institutions and private sector organisations to provide media support for the implementation of their programmes for the overall development of the region.