Accra, Dec 23, GNA - Workers and the Management of the Ghana News Agency (GNA) were on Friday commended for working hard in the face of several challenges and difficulties.

Mr Rex Owusu-Ansah, Chairman of the GNA Board, who made the commendation said with the support of the Management, the Board was working tirelessly behind the scenes to improve the working conditions and asked workers for their support in achieving results. Mr Owusu-Ansah, who was speaking at the end of year get-together for the staff, said the Board had not been imposed on the workers but put in place to help to better conditions at the Agency and, therefore, expressed the hope that every worker would put in the maximum co-operation and identify with the Board Members for the betterment of all.

"We are all together for one purpose. We swim together or we sink together," he emphasised and expressed the hope that the New Year would bring better opportunities for staffers as a united body. Nana Appau Duah, Acting General Manager, Expressed regret that money was in short supply at the Agency while the debts were rising. "The money for our administrative expenses is limited but our bills are high so it is difficult to meet the operational needs," he lamented and appealed to the Board to help to raise money for the Agency. He said a request had been sent to the Ministry of Finance to provide money to give a facelift to the compound, which he described as "horrible" and expressed the hope that the request would receive the necessary attention early next year.

Nana Appau Duah, who is also the Supervising Chief Editor, said he happy that the Minister of Information, Mr Dan Botwe had promised to provide 10 vehicles for the Agency to improve upon its work and prayed that the promise would be made good next year.

In a speech read for Mr Ben Mintah, Chairman of the Local Public Services Workers Union said the Union was working hard to improve on the Agency's Collective Agreement to ensure a better pay packet for workers especially at retirement.

Workers were treated to both gospel and highlife music which the majority could not resist but danced their hearts out.