President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, has called for better working conditions for media practitioners.
According to him, even though journalists are major stakeholders as far as the country’s development is concerned, their working conditions are nothing to write home about.
Mr Dwumfour was speaking at the 2nd Annual GJA Dinner Night at the International Press Center last night.
“Ladies and gentlemen, even though Ghanaian journalists play a significant role in the development of the country, their conditions of service are nothing to write home. This is not limited to private media houses alone, journalists in state-owned media also suffer a similar fate. We believe that journalists, whose work is seen as representing the Fourth Estates of Government deserve better remuneration,” he said.
“In marking World Day for Decent Work (WDDW) on 7 October last year, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the world’s largest organisation of journalists, joined the International Trade Union Confederation to call for wage justice. The IFJ demanded that media organizations restore decent wages in journalism
IFJ noted that Today’s world of skyrocketing inflation rates has severely impacted journalists’ incomes, in some parts of the world, journalists even struggle to receive their monthly pay, some of them having to rely on “brown envelopes” to make a living, thus jeopardizing media independence,” Mr Dwumfour added.
He said the working conditions of Journalists must be taken seriously as it tends to affect the performance of Journalists.
“Stakeholders must pay attention to the low level of remuneration of journalists across the country,” Mr Dwumfour said.
“Ladies and gentlemen this administration of the GJA marks the dawn of a new era. This is an era that offers hope and promises genuine solidarity with all journalists in Ghana. The welfare and safety of journalists will continue to be the topmost agenda of the Dwumfour Administration,” the GJA boss added.
According to him, the Government must lead the way for the private sector to follow adding, “Journalists in the public space must enjoy better working conditions and this will trickle down to the private sector”
