Ms Naomi Mattos, the new USA Embassy Press Attaché, said in response to a question on the issue, when she paid a working visit to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, to acquaint herself with the operations at the Agency, on Tuesday.

She said the US would continue to focus on working with the Government of Ghana in its Ghana Beyond Aid agenda, focussing on trade,  build stronger relationships, while  investing in people,  regional security, and economic prosperity for all.

The Ambassador would be replacing Ambassador Robert Jackson who left the country a few months ago  after a remarkable duty tour for another duty post.Meanwhile, Ms Mattos gave the assurance that Mr Christopher Lamora, the Charge d’Affaires at the US Embassy, was doing a great job on every front in holding the fort.

She announced that the Embassy was currently working on its 2019 Fiscal Year Plan and was dedicating a portion for capacity building programmes for journalists.She, therefore, urged media practitioners  and organisations to share ideas for the development of programmes that would address the critical needs that would enhance their operations.

The visit was also to enable Ms Mattos, who was accompanied by Mrs Joyce Okyere Asiedu, an Information Assistant, at the US Embassy, to strengthen the bond of relationship existing between the Embassy and the GNA.

Mr Kwaku Osei Bonsu, Acting General Manager of the GNA and Mrs Beatrice Asamani Savage, News Editor, with other senior Officials hosted them.Mrs Asiedu on her part recounted that the relationship between the Embassy and the GNA, saying it had been very healthy through the years.

She urged the GNA journalists to patronise use the well resourced library at the US Embassy for research and news reporting activities, saying all they would be required to show was an identity card.

Mr Osei Bonsu said the Agency was determined to stick to it reputable credibility credentials by continuing to report facts and not gossips, emphasising that: “We are very factual, we don’t report hearsays”.He said in the digital ecosystem that had evolved into a near perfect environment for distorted and fake news, there was the need for a genuine voice emphasising, “That is what the GNA brings to the table”.

He said unfortunately for the GNA, in its journey on the information highway, it had been overtaken by events that were beyond its control and was now struggling with underfunding, which was more compounded with the lack of equipment and technology in the face of the rapid development in the information technology.

He said, however, that the staff of the Agency were undeterred and were striving very hard to survive in their work to the nation.Mrs Savage on her part, noted that even in the face of the digital transformation and the social media, the GNA still remained the largest news gathering organisation and the most credible in the country, as well as the largest platform for the practical training of journalists in ethics and professionalism.

Due to the kind of training offered, the many experienced journalists who had exited over the years for greener pasture had excelled wherever they worked.“However, there were still a number  of high calibre and dedicated journalists who still believe in the GNA dream and are hoping that the Government will understand and invest in the GNA to help in building a prosperous Ghana for all,” she said.