In its quest to deepen the role of journalists in promoting parliamentary democracy in Ghana, a five member delegation of the Parliamentary Press Corps (PPC)-Ghana, last week paid a three day official visit to the Tanzanian Parliament.
The visit, which was upon the invitation of the Tanzanian Parliament, was to enable the delegation to interact with the leadership of the Tanzanian National Assembly as well as the Tanzanian Press Club also known as the “Bunge Press Club”.
It was also to afford the delegation the opportunity to learn of the best practices, specifically on how the National Assembly relates with the media so as to make practical recommendations to Ghana’s Parliament for consideration.
The visit is coming on the heels of recent challenges confronting the media in Ghana’s Parliament amidst complaints of unfair treatments, welfare issues and inconsiderate working conditions, among others.
The five-member delegation was led by the Dean, Andrew Edwin Arthur and four others, including the Secretary Stephen Odoi-Larbi, Financial Secretary, Francis Yaw Kyei, Vice Secretary, Jeorge Wilson Kingson, and Simon Ampasa Agianab, a senior member of the press corps.
In Tanzania the delegation met with the Speaker of the Tanzanian Parliament, and also had a brief interaction with the Prime Minister of Tanzania on the purpose of the visit. They were taken round the House by the Director of Public Relations of the Tanzanian National Assembly and the Deputy Director of International Relations of the House, Mr. Prosper Minja.
The delegation also had interaction with the members of the Bunge Press Club.
Receiving the Ghanaian delegation in his office at Dodoma, the Speaker of the Tanzanian National Assembly, Honorable Job Ndugai, recounted his school days in Ghana and how hospitable Ghanaians are and have been to him anytime he met with them anywhere in the world.
He said, Tanzania has followed Ghana’s democratic journey over the years with keen interest and that, it was wonderful that, both countries are initiating moves to learn from each other.
The Prime Minister of Tanzania, Kassim Majaliwa, in a separate meeting with the delegation, also welcomed the initiative of an exchange programme among the two journalists associations.
The Head of Information, Education and Communications Unit of the Tanzanian Parliament, Owen Mwandumbya, who took the delegation round the various sections of his department and the operations of the House, explained that, they place premium on information management, which is why a separate structure has been created solely for the management of information. According to him, the media have been recognized as a key player in their democracy, as such, they always go the extra mile to make the journalist feel comfortable while at work.
The delegation met an organized press gallery with separate offices for the various arms, including Radio, Television, Print and Online.
The delegation was told that, Journalists and media houses that want to belong to the Bunge Press Club or cover specific meetings of the House are well scrutinized, especially their educational backgrounds before given accreditation.
In the Tanzanian Parliament, almost all their Committee meetings are opened to the media, the delegation was told.
Members of the Club, in an interaction with the Ghanaian delegation, shared their challenges and limitations when operating from the House.
Leader of the Ghanaian delegation, Andrew Edwin Arthur, in an interview said, the visit has been an eye-opener as it has enabled the team to learn from the best practices of the Tanzanian press club.
He gave the assurance that, all the lessons learnt would be put in an official report for presentation to the leadership of the Parliament of Ghana for consideration.
He said, the ultimate aim is to see an enhanced parliament-media relationship in the interest of Ghana’s democracy. SEE MORE PICTURES OF THE VISIT BELOW
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