Ashanti GJA receives Gh¢50k surprise donation from Access Bank to boost press center project

The Ashanti Regional branch of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has received a donation of Gh¢50,000 from the management of Access Bank (Ghana) Plc.

The donation which was presented by the Managing Director of the bank, Pearl Nkrumah was meant to support the long awaited press center project. The amount which had been written on a giant cheque, was received by Kofi Adu Domfe, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the GJA.

Speaking to journalists after the presentation, the Managing Director of the bank Pearl Nkrumah said, the organization deemed it wise to support the GJA in securing a suitable office, recognizing the association's critical role in ensuring the effective transformation of various communities and nation-building at large. She explained that the bank has made it part of its mandate to effect positive impact, and this surprise donation to the GJA is one such initiative.

She also revealed that the media's effective role in public education and its influence on the bank's economic function can never be underestimated. She added that assisting an association like the media was therefore very necessary. She continued by stating that the bank owed it a duty to build a transparent and strong relationship with the media.

"Doing this is one of our corporate social responsibilities and support to the communities in which we operate. Looking at the media's role, it is very important that we support them, especially those in the Ashanti region here". She revealed.

Kofi Adu Domfe, the regional chairman of the GJA thanked the Access Bank Plc for such a wonderful donation describing it as a big surprise.

"It is very surprising to the executive and the entire membership of the Ashanti GJA. The bank invited journalists here to have some discussions and to our utmost shock, the managing director of the bank announced this Gh¢50,000 donation to support the press center project. We thank them so much because what they have done has really made a great difference. They have really paved the way for others to follow", he said.

He continued by urging pleading with the other organizations, individuals and corporate bodies to emulate Access Bank Plc and support the GJA to get its regional press center adding that it was very unfortunate that a great organization like the Ashanti GJA has no press center

"Every community deserves the best of journalism. For us to provide quality journalism, there is always the need to provide continuous training for the inky fraternity. This requires a press center that could provide space for these trainings among others, and that is why we are calling for more support to complete our project". He appealed.

Pleading for more support, he used the opportunity to urge journalists to hold the work in high esteem, a move he says could install respect for professionalism which would in turn attract more support.

As earlier indicated, all these took place during an Access Bank - Media engagement in Kumasi. The engagement which was done as part of building a broader relationship, also allowed journalists to ask questions of public concerns which were subsequently addressed by the management of the bank.