Story: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
Ghana’s Minister for Information, Mr. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has advised the National Executives of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), to call to order journalists who flout the ethics of the profession.
He explained that there are many presenters and journalists on our airwaves today whose conducts and utterances go contrary to the ethics of the journalism profession.
“Whilst the government is making use of the fact that journalists across the country practice their trade fearlessly without being cowered into submission by any individual, institution, or group of people, it is the duty of the national executives to call out those who flout the ethics of the journalism profession.”
“Don’t sit quietly and watch practitioners flout the ethics of the profession without calling them to book,” Mr. Oppong Nkrumah emphasised.
The Minister of Information gave the advice at the opening ceremony of the maiden retreat organised for the national executive body of the inky association at the plush Mount Pleasant Inns Hotel and Apartment at Obosomase in the Eastern region.
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah, who was the Guest Speaker for the event, urged the National Executives to use the three 3-day retreat to take a critical look at how unattractive the GJA has become to many journalists (both the old and up and coming) out there and put measures in place to make the association attractive for them to join.
“Your ability to succeed as new executives depends on how you make the association attractive to journalists,” Oppong Nkrumah said.
The minister, who doubles as the Member of Parliament for the Ofoase/Ayirebi constituency in the Eastern region, expressed the government’s commitment to supporting the development of journalists in the country.
The short but colorful ceremony was chaired by the Chancellor of Wisconsin University College Ghana, the Rev. Dr. Paul Kofi Fynn.
The ceremony was graced by notable personalities and institutional heads, including the Executive Secretary of NMC, Mr. George Sarpong; Akuapemhene who was represented by Lawyer Addo Yobo; the Director General of GBC, Prof. Amin Alhassan; Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper and PanAfrica TV Mr. Kwesi Pratt.
The rest are PRINPAG President, Mr. Edwin Arthur, and the President of GIBA, Mr. Cecil Sunkwa-Mills.
The 3-day retreat of the GJA National Executives will afford them the opportunity to take stock of the association by brainstorming on initiatives that would help turn the fortunes of the GJA around.
