‘Be circumspect in your reportage on the economy; don’t derail progress’ -Ken Ofori-Atta warns the media
The media has been warned by the finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, to exercise caution in their coverage of the economy and other national concerns in order to avoid derailing the progress accomplished thus far.
Mr. Ofori-Atta expressed concerns about some media stories that stated China might seize some of Ghana’s important resources because the country had defaulted on its loans in his Sunday, June 18, economic update at the Ministry of Finance.
He claimed that such rumors are unfounded, inaccurate, and the product of people’s imaginations, and that Ghana has effectively collaborated with the Paris Club and other creditors to establish the terms of the country’s debt restructuring. He also claimed that China will never seize control of the nation’s resources.
“We have also successfully worked with the Paris Club (PC) and other creditors to determine the parameters of our official debt restructuring under the G20 Common Framework for Debt treatment. In the coming weeks, we will seek to complete the MOU with the OCC on the terms of bilateral debt treatment. Government will sustain engagements with private creditors on external debt to reach agreement with the private creditors in the shortest possible time.
“In light of the above, we will count on all stakeholders, especially the media, to be circumspect in their reportage on the economy, to avoid derailing the progress being made. Our love of country must supersede all and as the late P.A.V Ansah, a University of Ghana communications school professor, said ‘Journalism 101 teaches media students that they have three basic roles: to inform, educate and entertain. However, for developing countries, there is a fourth: foster national cohesion. National cohesion is the foundation upon which any and everything else is built’.”
“The misreporting on China was unnecessary and unfortunate. Unfounded accusations against Government Officials leading the recovery are untenable and serve no useful purpose. Undoubtedly, the need for accuracy must override speed in these circumstances,” Ken Ofori-Atta stressed.
