General Manager of The Chronicle, Ebo Quansah has stated the company will resume production after the lockdown of Accra and Kumasi following coronavirus pandemic that has so far claimed five lives in Ghana and infected 287 others.
Economic watchers all over the world are warning that the pandemic of Covid-19 is gravely threatening the world’s economies as the novel deadly virus continues to cause havoc without boundaries.
In Ghana, there are fears some businesses will lay off workers in order to contain possible effects of Covid-19. The impact of the pandemic has not spared print media in the country as some newspapers are no longer on the newsstands because of fear of drastic reduction in sales.
Speaking on Bolgatanga-based A1 Radio’s bi-weekly news and current affairs analysis programme, Reporters’ Visit, Mr. Quansah said until the coronavirus pandemic, they newspaper business was collapsing around the world because of the emergence of social media.
He said, “People do not read as they used to. Formerly, I knew people who would buy about four or five papers a day but it came to a point where they had to read two or even one so the newspaper industry was already struggling [before Covid-19] but now it is even worse.”
He revealed that since President Nana Akufo-Addo announced a lockdown in Accra and Kumasi, The Chronicle newspaper and some other private newspapers have suspended production because the vendors are not there to sell the papers. Though he admitted the President’s lockdown directive did not directly affect journalists, it would not make economic sense for the papers to produce when the vendors were not available to sell the newspapers.
Mr. Quansah lamented the situation has brought untold hardship on journalists and other staff who work in these newspaper companies.
He, however, gave the assurance that The Chronicle will resume production when the lockdown is lifted and businesses back to their feet.
Touching on the negative impact of Covid-19 on Ghanaian businesses, Mr. Quansah appealed to the government to draw many lessons from the pandemic and support indigenous businesses especially the manufacturing sector to expand production and improve quality.
This way, the veteran journalist believes importation of some basic commodities could reasonably be reduced whereby giving rise to the local economy.
He stressed, “The government itself has to get busy with this 1 District 1 Factory. This is the time to convince Ghanaians that we do not need certain importations and that we must make do with the little we have in this country.”
Citing Katanka Automobile Company, Mr Quansah asked why the government would not support the owner to produce more vehicles for the local market?
By William Nlanjerbor JALULAH / www.thechronicle.com.gh
The post We will resume production after lockdown –The Chronicle GM appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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