The new board taking the oath of office The Chairman of the National Media Commission, Ambassador Kabral Blay-Amihere has questioned the propriety for the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) to pay dividend to the state when it has financial challenges of its own to address.
According to him, while he supports the implementation of initiatives that will make Graphic sustainable, he does not think that profit motives should be allowed “to undermine the greater obligation of the state-owned media to nourish and strengthen democracy in Ghana.”
Ambassador Kabral who was speaking at the inauguration of the new eight-member Board of Directors for the GCGL on Thursday in Accra, therefore called for a national debate on the subject, positing that Graphic’s reputation as a platform for all Ghanaians must be jealously guarded and protected.
The Graphic Board is chaired by Dr. Doris Yaa Dartey, with Prof. Kwame Karikari, Hajj Mohammed Amir Kpakpo Addo, Ben Assorow, Gideon Quarcoo, Gerald Ankrah, Nana Asantewa Afadzinu and the Managing Director, Kenneth Ashigbey as the members. Similar boards for the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation and the New Times Corporation.
Ambassador Kabral noted that attempts not too long ago to privatise Graphic failed, “because both staff and a section of the public continue to hold Graphic as the paper of the nation with such influence that no individual or group should be allowed to own and control such an important national asset.”
He said Graphic’s influence is magnified when it is seen as non-partisan and objective. Conversely, its credibility which impacts on circulation suffers when it is seen as biased in favour of any interest group.
“In fact a discussion on this matter may lead to the conclusion that the annual dividend Graphic feels obliged to pay annually could be re-invested in the welfare of staff and other areas of operation to enable Graphic serve this nation better.”
Kabral counseled that whatever good intentions that influenced the re-establishment of Graphic as a Limited Liability Company needed to be considered within the context of the national constitution.
The NMC chairman also urged all those associated with Graphic and its sister publications to maintain the integrity and authority of Graphic, saying that past situations since the short reign of Dr. Hila Limann when newsrooms in the state-owned media became fierce battle grounds of political party sympathizers must become a thing of the past.
He stressed the need for prudent financial management and strict accountability in all the state-owned media to ensure their viability and the related welfare of workers and called for greater state support in order to ensure the capacity of the state-owned media to undertake their public service mandate.
Role of State Media
He repeated his calls on members of the governing boards of the four state-owned media and all staff, particularly editors and reporters to be guided in their work by Chapter 12 of the 1992 Constitution which defines the role and responsibilities of the state owned media.
Ambassador Kabral said a careful reading of Chapter 12 and other provisions in Chapter 5, prescribes a public service role for the state-owned media as well as a watch-dog role for all the media, including the state-owned media to hold governments accountable to the people of Ghana.
“The second point I have made has been a call to all of us, as we celebrate the 20th year of the establishment of the National Media Commission, to consider necessary reforms in order to re-align the status and role of the state-owned media to reflect the letter and spirit of the constitution. The NMC itself is doing this assessment in order to bring about relevant legislative reforms in response to the challenges of our times.”
On behalf of the NMC, he welcomed the new board members and charged them to build on the solid foundations of previous boards, particularly the immediate past board, saying the relative industrial peace that reigns at Graphic ought to continue to ensure that Graphic becomes a giant in the industry and a model in public service journalism.
The Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group Limited, Mr. Kenneth Ashigbey welcomed the new board members and expressed the hope that with their good counsel and support, Graphic would achieve its targets and be a better place than they have come to meet it.
He also expressed gratitude to members of the immediate past board chaired by Education Minister, Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, saying they worked like a team made from heaven, playing their expected roles within clearly defined boundaries. He added that through the instrumentality of the board, Graphic achieved its targets, established its new printing press and won several awards.
On behalf of Prof Jane Opoku-Agyemang, the MD extended the gratitude of the old board to the NMC for the opportunity to serve the nation and wished the new board well.
Story: Isaac Yeboah/Graphic.com.gh
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