Communications Minister, Haruna Iddrisu on Saturday implored journalists to resist the temptation to be corrupted into assuming roles as mouthpieces for ruling governments or political opposition if they are to contribute constructively to the building of an enduring democratic process in Ghana.
He said the media today are influenced by many forces, among them politics, the legal system, market forces and motivation of journalists, however, journalists can play their watchdog role effectively with objective and accurate reportage that mirrors happenings in the society.
“You don't need to be a mouthpiece for government, neither do you need to be a mouthpiece for the political opposition. What you should report and ensure is accurate reflection. As journalists, you should mirror the happenings of our society and I'm happy to encourage you to do more.”
The Communications Minister was addressing the third congregation of the Ghana Institute of Journalism in Accra, where he pledged government's commitment to make capital provision in setting up a seed fund to support the take-off of the institute as a fully-fledged university since the government granted the charter a couple of months ago.
The congregation coincided with the 50th anniversary celebration of the institute under the theme; GIJ, 50 years of Defining Africa's Communication Agenda and saw 157 students graduating after they successfully completed a two-year diploma programme in Communication Studies. Of the number, one hundred and one were women.
Haruna Iddrisu reminded the graduands that they owe every other citizen a standard of care and duty to respect and protect their rights even as they play their vanguard role of holding public office holders and institutions accountable to the people of Ghana.
He said there are media-related suits in the law courts, plus a number of complaints at the National Media Commission which should at all times remind practitioners of the media framework and ethical boundaries within which they must operate. “Therefore at all times, do not compromise your ethical calling of being professional and ensuring accuracy and timeliness in the delivery of your message but remain critical of government and do demand and exact accountability from government and our state institutions.”
Haruna Iddrisu also announced that the government had critically reviewed the annual allocations of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and will ensure that GIJ would be a permanent beneficially annually to support massive infrastructure development to deal with intake limitations and issues of quality training.
Underlining the pivotal role the media has played and must continue to play in helping build a better and more united nation, Haruna recounted the joys of US President Barack Obama when he addressed Ghana's Parliament and noted that Ghanaians had worked hard to put democracy on a firm footing that ensured that political power was transferred peacefully even in the wake of closely contested elections.
Independent Media
A section of the graduating communicators
Announcing the desire of the government to ensure that the media remained independent, he said the government was also determined to eliminate all roadblocks that will inhibit the progressive pluralism of the media.
“We therefore invite the National Media Commission not to hesitate in sharing with government some of these fundamental roadblocks that inhibit pluralism and media independence in this country and government will join them in eliminating that.”
Haruna also observed that the accomplishments of the Ghana Institute of Journalism eloquently stand out as a true testament of the noble vision of the founding father of the Institution and the nation, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, whose foresight for nation-building recognized the indispensable role of development communication and the media to develop a critical corps of journalists imbued with the resilience necessary for liberation and independence of the entire black race.
He said fifty years on, the GIJ has persevered through thick and thin to maintain the onerous pioneering responsibilities while striving to adapt to modern and contemporary changes in the media environment altogether.
“It is in this light that we all doff our hats in salute to this noble institution for attaining full university status this year, what a timely and appropriate coincidence for attaining this status at 50 which we all admit adds to the increased expectation for excellence from a liberated, sophisticated and somehow critical public buoyed by technology in this age.”
Story by Isaac Yeboah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana
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