Graphic, Star Ghana partner to improve media landscape
A partnership agreement to assess the level of adherence to media ethics and frequency allocation has been signed between the Graphic Communications Group Limited and Star Ghana.
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The jointly funded project which is estimated to cost the Ghana Cedi equivalent of $100,000 would take a critical look at the allocation of frequencies to various radio and television stations locally.
Already, a research and management team has been set up to carry out research into the two areas of interest and submit their report to Star Ghana within six months.
At the signing ceremony, the Project Manager of Star Ghana, Mr Ibrahim Tanko, said the company aimed at helping to promote accountability and transparency for Ghanaians to hold the government accountable.
“Since it is not always possible for every citizen to hold the government accountable, the media have acted as an intermediary and voices through which the people speak,“ he said.
Mr Tanko pointed out that in seeking equity, the media must have clean hands and do what is right to be able to speak for the populace and “mediate between us and our leaders.”
Credible media
Mr Tanko said the project, a key component of ensuring a credible media, would also ensure adherence to media ethics.
He recalled that in line with its commitment to improve the media landscape, Star Ghana provided funds to the media foundation network during the last election to help it to monitor the airwaves, as well as “name and shame.”
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The Project Manager, who described GCGL as a partner of choice, said Star Ghana was managing the funds it received from donors on behalf of Ghanaians.
“Because of our achievements, donors have agreed to make available more funds for us to extend our projects and such success provides some learning for us as a country,” he added.
Time for introspection
For his part, the Managing Director of the GCGL, Mr Ken Ashigbey, noted that issues pertaining to ethics and frequency allocation in the media landscape had been “controversial.”
“Ethics are critical for the growth of the media and it is time for the media to do some introspection,” he said, and added that if media dictatorship prevailed, the general public would rise up against the media which may not be in the media's interest.
“Even in court, we see stiff sanctions against us coming from civil cases,” he said, and was optimistic that the project would help the media to improve their performance.
Mr Ashigbey commended Star Ghana for its achievements over the years and called for the replication of their success models in all spheres of national life.