NMC and government must sit up and address poor welfare of Journalists - YES President

Clement Adjei called on authorities to step in and fight the corruption canker in the media

The President and Convener for Youth Empowerment Summit Mr Clement Adjei has challenged the National Media Commission and for that matter government to sit up and address the prevailing challenges which has twisted the required ethical delivery of majority of journalists in the country.

The National Media Commission (MNC) including other umbrella bodies according to his accesment have been very weak in the execution of control mechanisms that can help save the situation.

Journalism in Ghana per the status quo he averred is highly tinted with myraids of problems ranging from poor remuneration, corruption of media personnel due to economic hardship and that most media houses are owned and controlled by businesspersons and politicians who remote their employees to do their bidding among others.

Stressing on the foremost, the outspoken President Clement Adjei noted that the issue of poor salaries recieved by a higher percentage of journalists in Ghana from station owners is the base for most of the unethical performances. "Most private radio and newspaper operators are unduly exploiting their hardworking staff to their (directors) personal advantage and until now NMC and government had not exercised any bold action against them. There are number of journalists in the country who are not even paid at all by their superiors and yet NMC and government has been silent over this worrying situation" he roared.

Speaking to this medium in an exclusive dialogue during the celebration of World Press Freedom day, he lamented that the media at the moment is largely divided along party lines and that developmental, education and economic issues are not given a central focus.

The watchdog and mouthpiece role of the media is highly under threat since most of them just like a stringed puppet are controlled by their

Pay masters from whom they earn advertisements and sponsorship packages.

Mr Clement Adjei therefore called on authorities to step in and fight the canker.