The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has donated protective items to the Western Regional Branch of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) as part of the party's contribution to help combat the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

The items donated included; five hand washing stations, four boxes of hand sanitizers, six gallons of liquid soap, four gallons of rubbing alcohol, two boxes of face masks, tissue papers, and three washing bowls.

Mr. Charles Cromwell Nanabanyin Bissue, Western Regional Secretary of the party who presented the items said since the Media was the Fourth Estate of the Realm, it was imperative to protect them in the wake of this global pandemic.

He said it was in this regard that the party saw it necessary to support them so that they would continue to educate and inform the public on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr. Bissue called on Ghanaians to adhere to all the measures and protocols put in place by the World Health Organization and the President to support the fight against the spread of the deadly disease.

Mr. Moses Dotsey Aklobortu, Chairman of the Western Regional GJA, receiving the items applauded NPP regional team for the kind gesture.

He stressed that the media strives on advertisements both print and electronic but with the outbreak of COVID-19, economic activities have gone down drastically thereby, setting the media industry back financially.

Mr. Aklobortu noted with concern that the situation has made it difficult for some media houses to pay their workers and be in business.

He in this regard appealed to the government to help the media industry to stay in business by including it in the financial support package for companies and businesses in the country.

The chairman, charged the media to continue to give accurate reportage on the COVID-19 pandemic to ease fear and panic among the public.