Ghana Is Role Model For Africa

Ms. Bridgewater the out-going US Ambassador to Ghana being taken around the Ghanaian Times' premises by Mr. Kofi Asuman, the MD

By William Yaw Owusu

Wednesday, 07 May 2008
THE out-going United States Ambassador, Pamela Bridgewater, has commended Ghana for consolidating its democratic processes.

"Ghana’s democracy is on track. The system is fair, balanced and accurate. Many countries including those on the African continent now see Ghana as a role model," she said.

Ms Bridgewater said this yesterday when she paid a courtesy call on the management of the New Times Corporation (NTC) in Accra to bid them farewell.

The Ambassador, who has spent 27 years in the US Foreign Service, three of which is in Ghana, is expected to take up an appointment as a senior faculty advisor, a think tank in one of the US, when she returns home.

"The US government commends Ghana for having four successive elections peacefully. This is what every country needs in order to advance democracy," she said.

The US, she added, is committed to supporting Ghana’s upcoming election to ensure that it is peaceful and credible adding, "a good, fair and clean election is what every country should look out for".

Ambassador Bridge-water said for democracy to be consolidated there should always be freedom of the press and noted, "Ghana is doing very well in the area of press freedom".
She said: "The investigative journalism being embarked upon by the Ghanaian media is good for democracy".

Ms Bridgewater commended the Ghanaian Times for leading the way in the area of women empowerment through journalism, saying "the elevation of the role of women by the Ghanaian Times is commendable".

She said the increasing participation of women in journalism is good adding, "wherever I visit in Ghana, I see a lot of female journalists".

"I am a big fan of newspapers. I start my mornings with them before I meet my staff. I am always delighted when women’s issues are always addressed."

She also commended the Ghanaian media for supporting programmes of the mission.

Ms Bridgewater also commended Ghana for placing issues concerning women high on the agenda noting that "The Domestic Violence Bill which is not an easy thing to do is being given a serious attention in Ghana".

Ghana, she said, must not relent in its efforts to ensure that women get a fair share of what is due them and continue to make them part of the development process.

Christopher W. Hodges, Public Affairs Officer of the US Embassy who accompanied the ambassador, said the embassy will assist the National Media Commission (NMC) to prepare journalists for the coverage of the 2008 election.

He said to this end, the embassy has voted 10,000 dollars for the training of journalists in August.

Mr Hodges also said the embassy will bring to Ghana two election speakers representing the Republican and Democratic parties in the US to share their experiences with Ghanaian journalists.

Mr Kofi Asuman, managing director of the NTC, said the corporation is collaborating with all stakeholders to consolidate democracy in the country.

He said the corporation‘s newspapers, the Ghanaian Times, The Spectator and the Sporting Times will continue to ensure a balance reportage for the development of the country.

"We hope your successor will also work closely with us to strengthen democracy in Ghana," Mr Asuman said.