Jones Anlimah
Inadequate infrastructure, budgetary allocation, and understaffing are some of the major challenges impeding work of the National Media Commission, NMC . To this end, the Chairman of the Commission Mr. Yaw Boadu Ayeboafo, has appealed for adequate resources be made available to enable the NMC to performer its oversight role of ensuring media development in the country. Mr. Ayeboafo made the call at a three-day Orientation for members of the National Media commission at Ho, in the Volta region.
The three-day Orientation was meant to create the platform for the Members of the Commission to engage and think through, as well as provide workable recommendations to concerns militating against Media development and practice in Ghana.
The Executive Secretary of the National Media Commission, Mr. George Sarpong said media practice and its development in Ghana is key to the country’s democracy and governance systems. According to him, media practice and development in Ghana has seen some major strides over the years. This notwithstanding, ”there are also issues of grey concern as far as media development and practice are concerned”.
”Despite the key roles played by the traditional media in the country’s democracy and governance systems, the advent of social media and especially issues of fake news have brought many media outlets on their knees near collapse”.
The program Coordinator for the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Mr. Michael Abbey, assured the Commission of its continued support towards further developing media practice in the country.
Chairman for the National Media Commission, Mr Yaw Boadu Ayeboafo said the Commission is rich in human resources, but, lacked adequate funding to undertake its statutory responsibilities and functions more effectively and efficiently.
“Of all the constitutional bodies created under the 1992 Constitution, the NMC is the most resource-starved. From the fact that all the Commissioners are part-time, through the inadequate office space, to the low budgetary allocation, there is everything to confirm that whereas the spirit of the Secretariat and Commissioners are willing and ready to perform and discharge their duties, the body is weak so to do”.
According to him despite the challenges confronting the Commission, it has been able to solve some issues brought before it amicably.
“Nevertheless, against all the odds, the Commission has won the hearts of many, played host to distinguished events and has been called upon now and then to resolve complaints brought up against the media. The Commission has had the privilege of resolving a complaint brought by former President JA Kufuor against the “Democrat”, dealt with an issue brought against the Statesman by former President John Evans Atta Mills, whilst serving as Vice President, as well as a matter brought up against the Weekly Insight by the Judicial Service. Indeed, in the matter against the Weekly Insight, the Judicial Service was represented by a Justice of the Supreme Court and the Judicial Secretary”.
Mr. Ayeboafo called on government to put in place measures and mechanisms to make the NMC functionally independent.
“Definitely, amongst the immediate and imperative needs of the Commission are suitable head office accommodation, regional offices, adequate budgetary allocation and management of frequency allocation. Thus, the arrangements for the construction of the Freedom House, under the Ministry of Information, through the collaboration of the NMC, the Right to Information Commission and the Ghana Journalists Association, is very welcoming and our hope is that it becomes a reality within the year. That will complement the Staff of the Commission.”
“Another area where the Commission needs support, is the setting up a functional and useful website. A body that supervises the mass media must have all its activities at the disposal of the public at the click of the button. It is unfortunate that as it is the Commission does not have a reliable and dependable website”. Mr. Ayeboafo noted.
Chairperson on the NMC called for support for the revival of the MONITOR Publications for both educational and professional referencing for media practice in Ghana
The Orientation was facilitated by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.
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