Government has suspended the policy of foreign film makers needing clearance from the Ministry of Information before showing their documentaries on local issues outside the country. The sector Minister, Zita Okaikoi, had earlier expressed discontent over documentaries put together by foreign correspondents which she said cast the country in a bad light. The policy was therefore intended to screen the content of all documentaries before they are taken outside the country. But even before the policy could be enforced the minister, Zita Okaikoi told Joy News it has been suspended. According to her the policy had outlived its usefulness. She lashed out at critics who described the policy as a re-introduction of censorship in the country. The Thursday, April 9, 2009 edition of The Statesman Newspaper has as its banner headline; “NDC brings back censorship…Orders correspondents to clear stories with Info Ministry.” The Minister said the publication is mischievous and a breach of faith. She explained that her first letter dated 16th March, 2009 issued the directive for foreign correspondents to seek permit from the ministry and be given an escort who would supervise and ensure that content was acceptable. This she said, was in keeping with an existing policy the government met in office. But upon further deliberations, the policy was suspended and second a letter dated 26th March was issued to that effect and to nullify her earlier letter. She is therefore shocked that the Statesman Newspaper will deliberately ignore the second letter and accuse the government of introducing censorship. She argued that the policy had been in existence even before the NDC assumed office in 2009. In a rebuttal, the former Editor of The Statesman Newspaper, Asare Otchere Darko said there was no need for the Minister’s directive, if the policy had already been in existence. He will not be drawn into an argument over the Statesman publication because he said he is no longer the Editor of the newspaper. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline