Speaker of Parliament Alban S.K. Bagbin has underscored the critical role of the media in the work of Parliament and assured his commitment to resourcing the Parliamentary Press Corps to work efficiently.
The Speaker gave the assurance during the swearing-in of new executives of the Parliamentary Press Corps at Parliament House, in Accra, on Friday.
He said the media served as a bridge between Parliament and the people in terms of dissemination of information on the work of the House, therefore, it was imperative to provide members of the Press Corps the necessary support to deliver on their mandate as the Fourth Estate of the Realm.
“You’re not only employees of your media houses but also a critical workforce for Parliament. People must understand that when we extend facilities to the media to enable you to do your work, we’re not trying to compromise your work, No, far from it,” Bagbin emphasized.
The Speaker directed the Deputy Clerk in charge of Speakership, Media, and Membership to facilitate efforts to connect internet to the Press Office of the Parliamentary Press Corps.
He pledged to organize frequent workshops, orientation and make available relevant materials such as the annual budget statements, Code of Conducts for Members of Parliament, and the new Standing Orders of Parliament to enable the media to report accurately on parliamentary proceedings.
The leadership of Parliament would support members of the Parliamentary Press Corps just as it had been supporting the staff of the Ghana Police Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Ambulance Service and Ghana Health Service who had been assigned to the Parliament of Ghana to facilitate their work, Mr Bagbin assured.
Simon Agianab, the Dean of the Press Corps, on behalf of his colleagues, thanked the Speaker of Parliament for his constant support to the Press Corps over the years, and pledged to work assiduously to facilitate the work of Parliament.
Other executives of the Parliamentary Press Corps are Stephen Odoi Larbi, Vice Dean, Kweku Sekyi Danso, Secretary, Francis Ekow Annan, Vice Secretary, Deborah Dzivenu, Treasurer, Ibrahim Alhassan, Organiser and Kweku Ansah, an Executive Member.
Source: GNA
