NMC, GJA and PRINPAG warn corrupt journalists

Chairman of the NMC Kabral Blay Amihere

Three media umbrella bodies, the National Media Commission (NMC), Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and the Private Newspapers-and Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG), have expressed concern about the growing disregard and disrespect by some journalists for the ethics of journalism in the country.

A press statement signed by the chairman of the NMC, Ambassador Kabral Blay Amihere, after a meeting with stakeholders in the media, as part of the NMC's on-going dialogue with the media, said the concerns bordered on rising pornography, allegations of corruption against media practitioners, hate-speech and insults in the media.

These disturbing trends, the three bodies said, constituted a threat to press freedom and greatly undermined the integrity and credibility of the media.

The meeting noted with great concern the low remuneration of journalists and the various constraints which impeded the operations of their regulatory bodies.

The statement said the GJA, PRINPAG and NMC renewed their commitment to high professional standards and resolved to enhance their self-regulatory mechanisms to promote professional standards so as to improve the image of the profession.

It said the NMC pledged to work tirelessly to fulfill its mandate as outlined in the 1992 Constitution and the 1993 NMC Act, while urging journalists to abide by the code of ethics of the profession.

The three bodies called for responsible press, as it was a guarantee for press freedom.