Accra, April 1, GNA - Mr Kweku Rockson, acting Rector of the Ghana Institute of Journalism, on Tuesday said the school was positioning itself to become a research and post-graduate centre for learning and training of communicators.

The move is to provide the relevant skills, knowledge, as well as give students the best training as far as the growth of communication and journalism is concerned.

"The emphasis on research would form the basis of our future curriculum development," Mr Rockson said at the launch of GIJ's Golden Jubilee celebration under the theme: "50 Years of GIJ-Defining Africa's Communication Agenda."

He said continuous refinement of the school's programmes was to equip graduates to fit into the job market and make relevant contribution to the industry and society as a whole. "We envisage a type of professional journalist who has the ability to objectively analyse issues and provide the public with relevant information."

Mr Rockson said GIJ would continue to modify its curricula in accordance with modern and international trends, adding "we are currently in the process of creating a Sandwich Centre and a Centre for Media and Public Policy, which will serve as a platform to engage the media and policy makers on national issues."

He said the upgrading of the Institute to University status had further deepened its position as a prestigious communication institute not only in Africa but across the globe.

"The GIJ has the capacity and desire to expand and admit more students who want to further their education in the area of communication and journalism studies.

"We are, however, constrained in terms of space which is affecting our ability to admit more students for our various programmes." Mr Rockson lauded the vision of the founding fathers, whilst acknowledging the contributions of stakeholders to the development of the school.

Dr Joe Annan, Deputy Minister of Education, tasked media personnel to specialize in order to make them more knowledgeable in those particular areas, saying "all over the world, specialization is the order of the day". He added that journalists must use the power vested in them to foster unity and development through good, accurate, accountable and quality reports. Mr Abrahim Awal, Managing Director, Graphic Communications, who chaired the function, noted that Ghana's quest for true democracy could be achieved only when journalists played their expected role in society.