The New Times Corporation (NTC) and the Embassy of Israel in Ghana, have committed to strengthening their longstanding relation to achieve mutually beneficial goals.
They are exploring, among other things, how to put their respective resources at each other’s disposal and collaborate on projects that lie within their distinct mandates.
This transpired yesterday when the Ambassador, ShlomitSufa, paid a courtesy call on the NTC management and editors in Accra to introduce herself, having assumed her role in the country about six months ago.
The envoy who has additional responsibility for Liberia and Sierra Leone took over from Mrs Shani Cooper.
She was accompanied by the Press and Media Coordinator at the embassy, Juliana Yorke, for the media familiarisation visit.
They were hosted by the Managing Director of the Corporation, Martin Adu-Owusu, Editor of the Ghanaian Times, Dave Agbenu and Editor of the Spectator, Emmanuel Amponsah.
Others at the meeting were Human Resources and Administrative Manager, Felix Acheampong, Marketing Manager, Alfred Koomson, Chief Accountant, Precious K. Kuagbedzi; Technical Services Manager , John Lawson and IsmailaAttaul-lah, Internal Auditor.
Mrs Sufa said the courtesy call was aligned with the Embassy’s commitment to have an established relationship with the media in Ghana as part of its Israel-Ghana relations activities.
Having followed the publications of the NTC’s flagship newspaper, the Ghanaian Times, she said the visit was also an opportunity to meet and get to know the people, especially behind the news.
She said the Embassy considered the corporation as a strategic partner and would be delighted to support efforts to shed more light on the work of the embassy in its areas of operation.
Mrs Sufa welcomed suggestions for exchange programmes and other projects that would showcase the embassy, pledging the commitment of the embassy to ideas shared by both sides.
Mr Adu-Owusu said the corporation stood ready to help publicise the activities of the embassy as information dissemination was at the heart of the mandate of the NTC.
“Our doors are always open, we are ready for you. Whatever information you want us to put out, it is our mandate to inform the public in a professional manner,” he stated.
According to Mr Adu-Owusu, the embassy’s pursuit of a solid relationship with the NTC was a step in the right direction and expressed the hope that both sides would put their best foot forward.
For Mr Agbenu, the relationship between the Embassy and the Corporation had been a warm one given that the Ghanaian Times had published its contribution to the country’s agriculture, sports and other sectors.
Noting that Israel had advanced in technology and other areas, he said, the idea of professional training should be considered to give journalists from Ghana and Israel an opportunity to learn from each other.
This, Mr Amponsah reechoed, saying the development of an exchange programme would help Ghanaian journalists sharpen their skills especially in holding duty bearers to the task.
BY JONATHAN DONKOR
