Accra, Sept. 3, GNA - Mr John Tia Akologu, Minister of Information, on Friday appealed to the Chinese government to support government in upgrading the Ghana News Agency (GNA) to help it to market Ghana in the international arena.

He said the GNA which was established by the first President of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah on the eve of the country's independence on March 5, 1957, was currently beset with challenges ranging from infrastructural rehabilitation, the lack of modern equipment, training for the staff, as well as vehicles to maintain efficiency and competition in its news reportage.

Mr Akologu made the appeal when Mr Gong Jianzhong, the newly appointed Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, called on him in his office.

The Minister indicated that being the first wire service in the sub-region, GNA had contributed immensely to the socio-economic, cultural as well as the political development of the people over the past decades, saying the Agency did not limit its news coverage to Ghana and Africa alone, but also extended its partnership to countries in Asia and Europe.

The GNA, for example, collaborated with the Reuters, Xinhua, Associated Press of India and also had correspondents in several countries including the United Kingdom, but the current financial constraints had limited this collaboration which formerly placed the Agency at a strategic position of showcasing Ghana's diverse potential in international circles.

He said over the past years, the Government of Ghana had provided various levels of assistance to help improve upon the services of the Agency. However, further external assistance would be needed to help in the face-lift of the Agency to help it maintain its leading role as the major news provider to majority of the Ghanaian media both public and private, and also to be able to meet current market competition.

Mr Akologu congratulated Mr Jianzhong on his appointment as Ambassador to Ghana and assured him of a cordial relationship between his Ministry and the Embassy.

He also commended the Chinese Government for maintaining a strong bilateral and diplomatic relationship with Ghana for more than 60 years and for the numerous development assistance in sectors, including agriculture, trade, industry, education and culture as well as the construction.

Mr Jianzhong gave the assurance that he would ensure a further enhancement of the diplomatic as well as bilateral relations that had existed between the two countries economically, socially, culturally and politically and further explore new areas such as sports, particularly soccer, where Ghana's soccer team would collaborate with China's own teams for training and friendly matches.

He said he would also try his best to enhance media relations between Ghana and China through collaboration with the Ministry of Information.

Mr Jianzhong thanked the Ministry of Information and the Government of Ghana for the support given during China's recent 50th anniversary celebrations of diplomatic relations with Ghana.