Bagbin calls for private member's bill for professional certification, chartering framework for journalists

Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has expressed support for a proposed Private Member’s Bill seeking to establish a professional certification and chartering framework for journalists in Ghana.

The proposed legislation is intended to introduce clear professional and ethical standards for journalists while creating a formal system for certifying practitioners within the media industry.

Mr Bagbin made his position known when a delegation from the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) paid a courtesy call on him.

He said legislation was necessary to provide a formal foundation for professional standards and ethical conduct in journalism.

“And so at the end of the day, we need to have a charter where ethics and other things matter. Before you are certified, you must go through that,” he said.

The Speaker pointed to the Institute of Directors and other professional bodies representing public relations practitioners, administrators and managers as examples of organisations pursuing legislative frameworks to support certification and chartering.

He said Parliament was willing to support professional associations seeking legislation to formalise their standards and strengthen their respective professions.

Under the proposed framework, journalists would be required to meet defined professional requirements and adhere to established ethical standards before receiving certification.

The initiative is expected to contribute to greater professionalism and accountability within Ghana’s media sector while providing a structured basis for recognising qualified practitioners.