By Eric K. Amoh
Tamale, Sept 16, GNA – The Minister of Finance, Alhaji Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, has pledged to help finance a GHC500,000 scholarship scheme to support the education of journalists working in the northern region who aspire to further their education.
He conceded that journalists in the region worked under precariously poor and underprivileged conditions in the discharge of their duties, which he said was unacceptable considering the level of commitment they put into the development of their story lines.
Dr Adam was addressing journalists attending this year’s Northern Regional Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) awards in Tamale.
He said he was motivated to start an educational fund for journalists in the region because of constant requests from journalists for financial support to augment payment of school fees in the region, hence the pledge to start such a scheme for journalists.
The awards had as its theme: Ensuring violence-free elections; the role of the media” and was attended by the Finance Minister as guest speaker, the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin as special guest of honour who was represented, the Director of Communications at the Bank of Ghana, Dr Benard Otabil, the GJA President, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, National Treasurer of the GJA, Mrs Audrey Dekalu
The Finance Minister said journalists in the region fearlessly pursued their work even under unconducive working environment and expressed shock at hearing the model of conditions under which they worked without reward, indicating “the Strength of character in journalists working in the region is commendable”.
He said despite the role journalists played in directing comfort in society, little was done to ensure their comfort and wellbeing, and pledged to spearhead the improvement of journalists’ lives. “I believe if you invest this money properly, it can support five journalists each year for five years”, he added.
He appealed to proprietors of media houses and institutions to help improve the working conditions of journalists nationwide.
Mr Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, President, Ghana Journalist Association (GJA), earlier, urged the Finance Minister to champion the financial well-being of journalists and resource the state-owned media to deliver well on their mandate.
He said in spite of the economic hardships being experienced worldwide and Ghana in particular, it was a well-known fact that journalists and media practitioners were among the lowest-paid professionals in Ghana.
Mr Dwumfour emphasised that championing better conditions of service for journalists would also encourage private media owners to do so for the general wellbeing of journalists in the country.
He said the 2023 National State of the Media Report highlighted the abysmal conditions of public service journalists, and urged the Speaker of Parliament to support a private members’ Bill that would promote media freedom and ensure a good welfare regime for journalists’ salaries and conditions of service.
The President also urged the media to allow professionalism and high ethical standards to take precedence over anything in fulfilling their duty and encouraged journalists to refrain from taking sides, be objective, and contribute their in ensuring free and fair elections.
The award produced 14 categories with Mr Christopher Amoako of Media General (TV3) emerging the overall best journalist in the Northern Region.
Miss Rosemary Wayo from the GNA received two awards in Road Safety and Peace and Conflict Sensitive Reporting and Mr Solomon Gumah also a reporter at GNA who won the best reporter in Agriculture.
GNA