Prince Minkah a proven journalist who has
worked with media institutions such as Citi FM, Ultimate FM, Class FM, TV
Africa and Pravda Radio in various disciplines
has recently tended his resignation and affiliation with Radio XYZ.
has recently tended his resignation and affiliation with Radio XYZ.
In November last year,
when delivering a speech at the Bloomberg Africa Business Media Innovators
Summit, held at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-
Addo stated that, African Journalists have a duty to help change the image
about Africa, and establish a narrative which is more positive.
He further
said African media practitioners have faced many challenges ranging from a
highly polarized media environment, lack of technological support, limited
investment in the sector, poorly paid journalists, threats to their lives,
corruption, and lack of requisite training.
So the
entire and above mentioned media affliction is embedded and traceable within
the Ghana media industry as an institution. This is so, because, Ghana is part
of Africa as a continent too, so we will look no further.
Have you
seen, read, heard or cared about the way and manner some of our radio
presenters, journalists and other media personnel are being treated?
These
professionals go through a lot of hustle in their various work places daily,
monthly and yearly just to collect, collate and report news to you as mere
servants of the fourth estate.
At least
they deserve some sort of dignity and respect from their employers even if they
are scantily paid, remunerated and even to some extent working for nothing.
Prince
Minkah, arguably do not roll, move, work or change from one radio station to
the other due to his inability to hold on to whatever role he is given at a
particular radio station.
He rather
prefers to move on as and when there are unprofessional barriers impeding his
work flow as the captain, marshal or custodian of the fourth estate.
His radio
journeys or jaunts have taken dotted turns and directions not because of his
selfish gains or personal navigations, but rather the nature of the
broadcasting terrains he finds himself in Ghana his home motherland.
He has a
wife, child and family to feed like most of his media colleagues, but one thing
is for sure. He does not believe in bending and curving the rules and roles to
please the Politician at the expense of the public.
One will then be tempted to think, Prince
Minkah is the one not to mess around with, given his status in the Ghanaian
media industry with respect to his pedigree and experience.
Enumerating
what he thinks are the various factors undermining the progress of the Ghanaian
media terrain in terms of quality he said : “Some of the factors undermining
the progress of the Ghanaian media industry includes Politicians owning the
media space and not allowing professionals to manage the talents they
(Politicians) employ.
“Because of
their inexperience, they (Politicians) tend to force their ignorance on the
flow of production and in some worse cases, forcing their political agenda”.
Another
problem engulfing the stability and progress of the Ghanaian media industry is
the fact that there are more potential radio or media employees than the
availability of radio or media jobs.
In his
explanation, he narrates that: “Because of the scarcity of jobs, some
professional journalist or presenters and producers tend to settle for some of
these jobs with unrealistic conditions, and when they can’t take it anymore,
they then resign.
“And also
some presenters are not lucky to be employed by people who understand what it
takes to manage and even enhance their brands as a media institution”.
In finding a
long lasting solution to these problems or challenges as done in Europe Prince
said: “It is important, the media or on air talents start employing the
services of agents who can draft contracts on their behalf or manage their
talents onwards”.
Drawing a
closure to his story, he said: “Finally most media houses lack human resource
practitioners who understand the strategies in media and how it works”.
For now, the
next solution to eradicate the stifling and strangling of our media people’s
work is for the public to establish an independent radio station funded by
philanthropists and the general public.
As the
fourth estate and pillar of democracy, should Ghana media industry be left on
the total disposal and shoulders of a present day Politician?
WILFRED
CLARKE
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