Economy: Don’t derail progress made with false reportage – Ofori-Atta cautions media

Ghana’s Finance Minster, Ken Ofori-Atta has admonished the media to be circumspect in their reportage on the economy and other national issues in order not to derail the progress made so far.

In his Sunday, June 18 update on the economy at the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Ofori-Atta raised concerns about some reports in a section of the media which claimed that China will be taking over some key resources of Ghana because the country had defaulted on its loans.

He said such reports are untrue and unfounded and just a figment of people’s imaginations and that Ghana has successfully worked with the Paris Club (PC) and other creditors to determine the parameters of restructuring the country’s debt and that at no point will China take over the country’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,” the Finance Minister stressed.