Accra: The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Monday engaged editors of the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra to deepen existing collaboration and explore opportunities for promoting children’s rights through impactful story writing. The engagement marks the first in a series of strategic meetings with key media houses in Ghana, aimed at building strong partnerships to advance UNICEF’s mission of ensuring equity and protection for every child.

According to Ghana News Agency, Madam Ofeibea Baddoo, the Communication Specialist and Media Focal Person at UNICEF, emphasized the Fund’s appreciation for GNA’s role in information dissemination and national development. She remarked on the importance of initiating the engagement series with GNA given its significant role in Ghana’s media landscape. She highlighted UNICEF’s focus on equity, education, nutrition, youth development, social protection, and inclusion, noting the lack of attention children receive outside politics and sports in the media.

Madam Badoo reiterated UNICEF’s unique position as the only United Nations agency dedicated to advocating for children’s rights and well-being. She pointed out Ghana’s historic commitment to child welfare as the first country to ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child and expressed confidence that the collaboration with GNA would amplify children’s voices and highlight critical issues affecting them.

Welcoming the UNICEF team, Mrs. Beatrice Asamani Savage, the Director of Editorial at GNA, underscored the Agency’s historic role in shaping African narratives and promoting Pan-Africanism. She explained GNA’s foundational purpose to retell the African story and mobilize information for the continent’s development. Despite resource constraints due to its reliance on government subvention, Mrs. Asamani Savage noted GNA’s efforts to adapt by piloting multimedia content and enhancing its social media presence.

Mrs. Asamani Savage acknowledged the increasing demand for credible content amidst the growing number of media outlets and reiterated GNA’s commitment to providing it. She affirmed the Agency’s support for UNICEF’s mission, especially in domains directly impacting children and youth across Ghana.