Graphic, Star-Ghana broaden consultations

The Graphic-STAR–Ghana project on media ethics and transparency in frequency allocation has held a meeting of its steering committee to discuss how to forge greater alliances with other stakeholders on the project.

The meeting, held last Tuesday in Accra, was attended by representatives of the Ghana News Agency, Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG) and the Private Newspapers Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG).

Addressing the meeting, the Director of Newspapers of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, said two successful consultative meetings held in Accra and Kumasi gathered productive inputs from the participants, which were noted in a 22-point communique.  

To stimulate more discussions on media ethics and transparency in frequency allocation, Mr Boadu-Ayeboafoh said the GCGL would broaden consultations with as many stakeholders as possible to obtain a comprehensive perspective of the public on the issues raised.

He said the consultations were also aimed at harmonising the code of ethics of the various media groups into a single national document which would be applicable to all media organisations and groups.

“It has been clearly established across the globe that self-regulation is the most functioning means of controlling the media because when the media is controlled from outside, it weakens them and they are unable to influence society in any positive way,” he stated.

Lack of transparency 

Mr Boadu-Ayeboafoh said findings from the project research indicated the lack of transparency in the allocation of frequencies.

He said efforts by the research team to get information on frequency allocation from the NCA did not yield any results as officials were not forthcoming.

That, he said, further confirmed suspicions that there was no basis in the award of frequencies in the country.

Although FM radio stations were to stay within a certain jurisdiction, Mr Boadu-Ayebaofoh indicated that some went far beyond their locations.

“Some are even proud to announce on their stations that they can reach every corner of the country which is a criminal act but the NCA is also not saying anything about it,” he said.

Therefore, he said, it was important to involve all stakeholders including Parliamentarians in the issues and advocate for a change in allocation of frequencies and media ethics. 

Amend NCA Act 

For his part, a Senior Research Officer, Mr Kwesi Jonah of the IDEG, suggested that the NCA Act should be reviewed to compel it to be transparent and also give individuals and institutions the chance to seek legal redress in dealing with it. 

He added that after 20 years of democracy, there was the need for journalism to take a turn, change its culture and consider self-regulation. 

The Director of Business Development at the Ghana News Agency, Mr Samuel Bruce Nyarko, expressed concern about how some media owners and managers of media organisations offered their platform for all manner of people and content due to monetary intentions.

The Project Manager, Mr Kingsley K. Inkoom, said the project was jointly funded by  Star Ghana and the GCGL at $120,000.