GJA bemoans poor remunerations of journalists

Low wages and salaries paid journalists and other media practitioners took centre stage at this year's flag raising ceremony to mark World Press Freedom Day in Accra on Friday.

Present at the event which was held alongside a news conference at the International Press Centre were the President of the Ghana Journalists Association, Roland Affail-Monney, Chairman of the National Media Commission, Kabral Blay Amihere, as well as representatives from various regulatory bodies in the media.

The major issue highlighted at the event was the low remuneration of media practitioners in Ghana and the need for a radical approach to tackling it.

Meanwhile, Former President John Agyekum Kufuor in his message to Journalists on International Press Freedom Day has asked Ghanaian Journalists to consider the country's development as well as peace in the performance of their duties.

Journalists must also make it a necessity to put Ghana first in their reportage.

Former President Kufuor explained that as the fourth estate of the realm, the Ghanaian Media must be accountable to the people.

In a related development, a cross-section of the people interviewed in the Eastern Regional capital Koforidua have commended the media for their role in informing and educating the public on pertinent issues in the country, especially government policies.

They said the media also help to uncover the ills in society and put people, especially the leaders, on their toes at all times.

They however expressed disgust about the way some media houses embellish stories especially during news in the local languages.

Some also use vulgar language on air which is against the professional ethics and cultural norms of the land.

The Eastern Region Relations Officer of the Ghana Police Service, ASP Yaw Nketia Yeboah, said, there is more room for improvement to sanitise the media landscape in Ghana.

He stressed the need for media practitioners to have the requisite training in order to give authentic information to the public.

ASP Nketia Yeboah suggested that media practitioners be given better remuneration and the needed logistics to enable them to discharge their duties effectively.