Accra, Feb. 11, GNA - The Government on Friday dismissed alleged payment of thousands of dollars to media owners and spokespersons describin= g it as a 93spurious and absurd publication authored by a faceless group claiming to be 91Media Watch Research Associates'".

In a statement signed by the Deputy Minister of Information, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Government stated that by all indications 93the group do= es not exist neither has anybody owned up to the wild allegations put out".

The Government appealed to the media to cross-check the sources of their information before publishing such scandalous materials, which only attract severe legal consequences and erode their credibility.

The statement said government had asked the security agencies to help to identify the miscreants behind the cowardly publication.

The statement appealed to all Ghanaians to treat the said publication with the utter contempt it deserves.

It reiterated that 93government's policy is to encourage an indepen= dent and vibrant media which is treated with respect and dignity knowing that no amount of public relations can paper-over the reality, and that all efforts will be spent on delivering on the Better Ghana promise for all Ghanaians t= o see and experience".