Accra, Jan. 17, GNA - Mr Paul Adu-Gyamfi, Chairman of the National Media Commission, (NMC) on Wednesday commended the New Times Corporation (NTC) for using its newspapers to address social issues affecting ordinary Ghanaians.

"The success you have achieved with the social outlook of your papers, 91The Ghanaian Times' and 91The Spectator' has challenged the apocryphal notion that the people of Ghana are only interested in political news.

"You have demonstrated that with good treatment and excellent professional touch, social stories will interest the nation, Mr Adu-Gymafi said at the inauguration of the New Times Corporation's Board of Directors, which is under the chairmanship of Professor Kwesi Yankah.

The Chairman of the NMC said: "Perhaps the most important contribution you focussed on has made to governance discourse is the subtle redefinition of the concept 'State' in a State-owned paper.

"You have wittingly demonstrated that the State is broader than the Government and, therefore, the best enterprise of a State-owned paper cannot be concentrated on government propaganda.

"In short, you have argued that the people matter.....Continue to lead the nation's search for answers to the social problems that confront us," Mr Adu-Gyamfi said.

He advised the Board to address the welfare concerns of the staff and to work hard to maintain standards. Prof Kwesi Yankah, Board Chairman, said there was the need to improve the technical capacity of the staff to cope with the complex technology in the world of publishing, printing and information technology.

He urged the Government to intervene and undertake a major recapitalization exercise of the corporation to transform the physical infrastructure.

He said as the nation marked its 50th anniversary, the biggest priority of any State-owned media organization was to be committed to national development.

"Each step taken by the media; stories featured in the media and the editorials we write ought to be constantly guided by questions of national development," he said.

Other members of the board are Togbe Avudzega Soga; Mrs Harriet Amoah; Mr Anthony Ekow Dadzie and Mr Derby Amissah-Arthur. The rest are Mr Eddie Adiin Yansah; Mrs Genevieve Haruna; Squadron Leader De-Graft Elionah (rtd) and the Managing Director of the Corporation.