Dozens of media
organisations across the country have joined the Media Foundation for
West Africa (MFWA), to demand information on the whereabouts of the
Gh¢1million that was allocated in the 2012 budget as Media Development
Fund (MDF).
The media organisations, majority of whom are based in districts where advertising and other sources of media revenue are literally
absent, are calling on the government to honour its transparency and
accountability obligations by letting Ghanaians, and the media community
in particular, know the status of the fund.
On September 9, 2011, then
Vice President (and now President) John Mahama announced government’s
plans to set up a Media Development Fund (MDF). The President made the
announcement while addressing the 16th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) awards as the guest of honour.
Following the announcement,
the then Finance Minister, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, in his presentation of
the 2012 budget to parliament, announced that Gh¢1million has been
allocated to the Fund.
Subsequently, in March 2012,
Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa, then a Deputy Minister of Information, announced
that the Gh¢1million MDF was ready and would be operational in the
second quarter of 2012. In his State of the Nation on February 21,
2013, President Mahama told the nation that: “The newly established
Media Development Fund aimed at improving capacity within the media will
be operationalised this year.” It was evident from the president’s
statement that the MDF was not operationalised in 2012.
Nine months after President
Mahama’s promise and with just a month to the end of 2013, there is no
evidence of the operationalisation of the Fund. Following a media
release by the MFWA on October 24, raising questions about the
whereabouts of the Gh¢1million MDF, it emerged that all the key media
stakeholders in the country including the national Media Commission,
Ghana Journalists Association, Ghana Independent Broadcasters
Association are all unaware of what has happened to the Fund.
While there are pieces of
information suggesting disagreements among stakeholders on how the fund
should be managed, there has been silence on the fate of the Fund and
whether or not there have been any disbursements.
Below are media
organisations that have joined the crusade to demand information and
accountability on the fund. The MFWA is calling on other media
organisations to indicate their support for this campaign by indicating
their endorsement through an email to alerts@mediafound.org
Greater Accra Region
1. The Enquirer
2. Asempa FM
3. Adom FM
4. The Lens
5. Net 2
6. Oman FM
7. Hot FM
8. Radio XYZ
9. The Statesman
10. TV Africa
11. Daily Guide
12. Guide Young Blazers
13. News One
14. New Crusading Guide
15. Ghanaian Observer
16. The New Independent
17. The Chronicle
18. Spy Ghana.com
19. Ghanabusinessnews.com
Volta Region
20. Radio Jubilee
21. Faafa FM
22. Holy FM
Eastern Region
23. Eastern FM
24. Rite FM
25. Life FM
Western Region
26. De Beat FM
27. Space FM
28. Trickie FM
29. Kasapreko FM
30. Radio Rainbow
31. Golden Pod FM
Central Region
32. Ankobra FM
33. Yes FM
34. Radio ATL
35. Spark FM
36. Radio Peace
37. Hope FM
Ashanti region
38. Radio Xtacy
39. Freedom FM
40. Kessben FM
41. Spirit FM
42. Shaft FM
43. Metro FM
44. Sunsum FM
45. Fox FM
Brong Ahafo
46. Success FM
47. Adars FM
48. Dormaa Community Radio
49. Vizen FM
50. Chris FM
51. Sky FM
52. Adepa FM
53. Royals FM
54. Asta FM
55. Omega Radio
56. Yankee FM
57. Max FM
58. Shalom Radio
59. Classic FM
Northern Region
60. Diamond FM
61. Justice FM
62. Bishara Radio
63. Kesmi FM
64. North Star Radio
65. Filla FM
Upper East Region
66. Word FM
67. Radio Builsa
68. Tanga Radio
69. Nabiina Community Radio
70. A1 Radio
71. Quality FM
Upper West Region
72. Radford FM
Issued by the MFWA in Accra on December 11, 2013
The
MFWA is a regional independent, non-profit, non-governmental
organization based in Accra. It was founded in 1997 to defend and
promote the rights and freedom of the media and of expression.
Source : MFWA
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