The Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG) is calling for more structured, direct engagement between the U.S. Embassy and Ghana’s media leaders to ensure accurate public understanding of evolving American policies on trade, diplomacy, and visas.
The appeal was made by PRINPAG President, Lawyer Andrew Edwin Arthur, during a meeting with U.S. Embassy Press Attaché Matthew Asada at the association’s national secretariat on Thursday, August 7, 2025.
Mr. Arthur suggested that U.S. officials should hold collective briefing sessions with editors and senior journalists to explain complex policies, particularly recent discussions around visa validity changes, reciprocity schedules, and the proposed — but not yet implemented — $250 visa integrity fee.
He also outlined the economic and operational challenges facing Ghana’s private media, including dwindling advertising revenues, reduced subscriptions from government ministries and agencies, and managerial capacity gaps among publishers. According to him, sustaining a vibrant independent press remains critical to Ghana’s democratic space, and strategic partnerships with diplomatic missions could help bolster the sector.
In response, Mr. Asada pledged the Embassy’s readiness to strengthen communication with all segments of Ghana’s media, noting that U.S. foreign policy has shifted in recent years from aid-heavy initiatives to a stronger focus on trade, investment, and commercial diplomacy — priorities that will influence future media training and collaboration programs.
The meeting ended with both sides committing to maintain open channels of communication. PRINPAG’s leadership promised to mobilise its members for policy briefings, while the Embassy assured more frequent engagements to keep journalists updated.
Also present were PRINPAG Vice President Michael Antwi-Agyei, Executive Secretary Jeorge Wilson Kingson, Organising Secretary Emmanuel Opare Djan, Financial Secretary Naana Aklerh I, and Madam Joyce Asiedu from the Office of the Press Attaché.
The exchange marked what both parties described as a renewed effort to bridge information gaps, strengthen professional ties, and improve the accuracy of U.S.–Ghana policy coverage.
