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20.06.2005 General News

EU urges Media to report good side of Ghana

20.06.2005 LISTEN
By GNA

Accra, June 20, GNA - Mr Stefan Frowein, European Union (EU) Ambassador in Ghana on Monday bid farewell to the country and said the Ghanaian Media must do more to lift Ghana's image by reporting the many positives strides she was making.

"Ghana is doing fine and making great efforts, at least for the past four years that I have been in the country as far as good governance is concerned", he said.

He was speaking during a courtesy call on Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, Minister of Works and Housing, to announce his departure. Mr Frowein quoted a question a friend had asked him about Ghana: "Why don't Ghanaians write about the many positive and good things going on in their country, but we hear of such horrible news all the time?" The EU Ambassador in his reaction said he had replied: "May be because good news are less attractive." He thus implored Ghanaians Journalists to endeavour to say some of the positive things that needed to be told.

On EU support to the Ghana Water Company Limited, Mr Frowein said the current five-year water and sanitation projects with a total support of 55 million euros would end next year but a new agreement would be put in place in 2007.

The EU has been involved in three major projects including the Small Town Water and Sanitation Projects in Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Western Regions as well as the rural projects in the Northern and Central Regions.

Mr Frowein thanked the Minister for what he described as pleasant and professional relationship he enjoyed in the country and asked similar reception to be accorded to his successor. Mr Owusu-Agyemang said Ghana appreciated the commitment and support it was enjoying from the EU to bring water to the less fortunate people in the country.

He said water had to be given all the priority it deserved, adding that with the intervention of the EU and other donor partners in providing borehole water, today guinea worm had almost been eradicated in the Upper East Region.

He said currently the Government was undertaking a major rehabilitation works for most of the regional dilapidated pipelines, but noted that this required a huge investment in infrastructure. Mr Owusu-Agyemang said he was hopeful that most regions would have their water problems largely solved within two years.

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