Accra, July 23, GNA - The National Media Commission (NMC) should enhance its links with the National Communication Authority (NCA) to make it more effective, Mrs Florence Oboshie Adjao Sai Cofie, Minister-designate for Information and National Orientation said on Monday.

Answering questions before the Vetting Committee of Parliament, Mrs Sai Cofie said the Commission was working within constraints and needed to be resourced.

Mrs Sai Cofie who was being elevated from deputy status to a substantive portfolio, said the Orientation Ministry, which was created and added to Information barely a year ago had succeeded in creating a whole new wave of nationalism.

She said Orientation had provided focal point for the reorganization of the national psyche, discipline, citing the unity with which Ghanaians celebrated the Black Stars' sterling performance in last year's World Cup football tournament.

The nominee said she did not see any conflict of interest of her ministerial position and her involvement as a shareholder in Media Touch, an advertising company that was involved in the public education on National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). She said her movement from co-founder of Media Touch to the Ministry was a response to call for national service and that the national Constitution does not stipulate that one had to give up holdings in a private company when called to serve the nation. She said such a notion would prevent people from serving their country in public life.

Mrs Sai Cofie promised to investigate a reported fraud involving regarding the NHIS contract award to Media Touch. She promised to enhance TV coverage in remote parts of the country, adding that the improvement in the road network would also enhance the circulation of newspapers.

According to Mrs Sai Cofie the Ministry was using experts in local languages in the dissemination of information to the grassroots. It is also working to improve the capacity of Ghanaian journalists. The Minister-designate promised to ensure faire coverage for all political parties.

On the state of the Freedom of Information Bill, Mrs Sai Cofie said the Bill was being processed for Parliament.