According to him, the initiative will equip journalist with specialized training and skills about diverse subject areas relevant in aiding journalist to become independent and neutral arbitrators of government policies and dealing in the  ‘public court of opinion’.

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Mr Hamid said situations where most journalists depended on only politicians to comment on issues bordering the country without having a fair understanding of the problems do not help the citizenry in decision making hence the initiative.

He disclosed this at a media engagement with journalists in the Upper East Region on Friday.

Even though the minister did not disclose when the initiative will commence, journalist across the country will be selected to be trained by international institutions and organisations.

“So I am begging journalist to upgrade their knowledge but on our part as government, we have resolved that we will help you in that endeavor.

we are currently in talks with so many interested international bodies and trading organizations to once a while allow us(government) to pick some of our journalist across the country for training so that journalist can get the opportunity to upgrade their knowledge”.

“Frankly, I admit that many journalists in our country cannot afford the money to undertake such training and upgrading themselves. So we believe that as a government we should have a contribution towards this course so that we can have journalists who have informed themselves and therefore capable of moderating and writing on national issues”.

Mr Hamid added that the scraping of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) levy in the second cycle institutions by the government was to prevent heads of SHSs from using the “backdoor to charge monies that will almost look like fees”.

He also hinted that the government in the coming weeks would launch the ‘One Village One Dam’ project where hundreds of communities in the three regions of the north would witness the construction of dugouts for dry season farming.

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By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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He expressed worry over the rickety vehicles given to Journalists during working visits or tours by Ministers and other Government officials- a development he indicated was a threat to the lives of journalists.

[contextly_sidebar id=”k794jIDzJ9AxXlqG4Iow6ZxlsYU8SPbw”]Mr Hope made the remarks at a press soiree organized by the KMA as part of its annual end of year meetings with journalists in the region.

He cited an incident where one of the journalists in the region sustained injuries during a tour with a Government official.

He indicated that the death of his colleague at the Ghanaian Times Newspaper, Samuel Nuamah in August 2015, must also serve as a wakeup call for authorities to see to the welfare of journalists when travelling with them to cover stories.

Mr Hope also appealed to authorities at the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council (ARCC) and the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to always ensure better vehicles are provided for journalists when they are touring with any Government official.

The Chairman stressed that journalists also deserve to sit in V8 vehicles as the politicians and Government officials.

“Last two years or so, some of us were following the Minister for a program and there was an accident. Evans Nkum is not here and as we talk the metal that was slotted into his hand is still intact. It was all as a result of rickety vehicles given to journalists. I have been a witnessed myself. Sometimes I even feel we should boycott some of these programs because the vehicle given to us is rickety one”.

He also called on journalists to remain professional in the discharge of their duties.

Kumasi Mayor, Osei Assibey Antwi called on journalists to support the development of the metropolis.

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By: Hafiz Tijani/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Visibly furious NPP members from the Elembelle Constituency in the Western Region, had journeyed for about six hours to the National Headquarters, to register their displeasure concerning their polling station register. I arrived on the scene around 9:20 am; and they had been there since 5:00am that fateful day.

Their initial plan was to petition the national executives, and then talk to the media. But four hours later when no executive had showed up to give them a listening ear; they were ever willing to speak to the media. And for every journalist, there’s no greater pleasure than a subject wiling to speak – the work must be done.

It turns out the security personnel at the NPP headquarters were displeased with the protesters’ willingness to speak to the media, and the media’s readiness to do due diligence. The well-built macho men resorted to attacking us.

I was standing next to a reporter from TV3, who had his camera out, while I had my smartphone out capturing the moment. The aggrieved protesters were our focus, but instead, there were six fuming macho men in our shot.

The threats to attack us and the actual attack happened simultaneously. The TV3 reporter was served a slap, thrown down and kicked mercilessly. The Ghanaweb journalist was not spared either. My braids were being pulled and my spectacles slapped off my face. The protesting Elembelle constituents rushed to our rescue and they received their share of the assault – there was chaos.

By the time there was some semblance of calm, any gadget or object that could facilitate us getting the work done had been seized.

The macho men had one goal – to incapacitate the media. And they succeeded.
During and after the pandemonium, only one question echoed in my brain. Was our effort to get our job done criminal?

In response, my brain reversed to a statement made 11 months earlier by President Akufo-Addo. This is what he said: “I ask you to be citizens; citizens not spectators.” These words are a fragment of President Akufo-Addo’s over 25 minutes inaugural speech on January 7, 2017, and they resounded across the nation. The controversies regardless, that was the crux of his speech.

On that day, the President placed a demand on the citizenry. And the following statement highlights the exacts of his demand. That we should be…responsible citizens building our communities and our nation. Let us work until the work is done.”

And having identified my role in the community, on December 21, 2017, I started my day having in mind to work “until the work is done.” And I’m positive the other journalists had same in mind.

This message was for the teacher, janitor, CEO, farmer, doctor, carpenter, JOURNALIST and every other right thinking or well-meaning Ghanaian, emphasizing enough that it will take our concerted effort to complete the bigger picture.

I write ‘JOURNALIST’ in caps not because I seek to unfairly glorify the profession above others, even though we are the Fourth Estate of the realm so-called; a position that bestows on us the power to make or break; a very critical role that earns us foes and friends across the social class, relatively more foes from elites and the political class.

Eleven months into the Akufo-Addo administration, and it seems the demand for us “… to be citizens; citizens not spectators …responsible citizens building our community and our nation; Let us work until the work is done” was to every Ghanaian besides the NPP and their entitled youth.

So, in our refusal “to be spectators,” cameras, phones, recorders and notepads surfaced to capture the events as they unfolded. In doing our job, we were being “responsible citizens” as our loyalty lies with the people.

The demeanour and actions of the macho security men portrayed a sense of security and surety – that they will go unpunished. This further inflated their already pumped up muscles as they charged at us [journalists] with an offensive aura. They completely trampled on our rights as human beings and as media persons.

If things had gone further sour, my family and the family of the other victims would have been grieving during this festive season.
And to add insult to injury, when the incident was reported to the NPP’s Deputy General Secretary, Sam Payne, upon his arrival at the scene, he retorted that, “no one asked him [the reporter] to come and film” and walked away. His response might have been to only one journalist, but by extension, it goes for the other journalists present.

My immediate thoughts after Mr. Payne’s remarks were that media persons are not guaranteed protection of any kind in executing their duties, especially when it’s unfavourable to the “high and mighty.”

It’s been a week after the unfortunate incident, and the governing party is yet to comment or show any indication of addressing the issue to ensure there isn’t a repetition. Perhaps, Mr. Payne’s comments when he was presented with the matter, were only a representation of the entire NPP’s disposition.

From where I sit, on this matter and several others like this, the NPP is very much SPECTATING!
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By: Marie-Franz Fordjoe/citifmonline.com

The post ‘Assaulted’ journalist writes: NPP’s actions mock their words appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Following up on hints of an ongoing protest at the party’s national headquarters in Accra, the reporters headed there.

Upon their arrival, scores of the party’s members, numbering about 200 from the Ellembelle Constituency in the Western Region, had besieged the headquarters demanding a clean register ahead of the party’s internal elections in January 2018.

Whilst filming the happenings, they were attacked by about six well-built men who are security guards at the party’s head office.

GhanaWeb’s cameraman was slapped, thrown on the ground and kicked mercilessly by the ‘macho’ men.

When the issue was reported to the NPP Deputy General Secretary, Sam Payne upon his arrival at the scene, he retorted that, “no one asked him [the reporter] to come and film” and walked away.

Efforts by onlookers and the protesters were simply insufficient to calm the anger and energy with which the security guards were manhandling the cameraman.
TV3’s reporter earned slaps, after which his phones and other equipment were seized.

Citi FM’s reporter was also attacked by a female party loyalist and the ‘macho’ men. Her spectacles were broken, whereas her phones and bag were seized.  She later was given back her items.

The Ellembelle protesters, who tried protecting the journalists, were also attacked.

About two of the protesters received slaps as a result, and one other person, sustained injuries, including a burst lip and a broken nose.

Ghanaweb’s cameraman complained of blurred vision and pains. Such offenders are often not punished, supposedly due to political affiliation with the governing party.

The defiant protesters insist on a clean register, as they allege some fraudulent activities in their constituency will mar the voting in January.

The governing party is expected to go to the polls in January 2018, to elect polling station executives. As part of that, all party members are to have their names captured on the party’s register by December 25, 2017.

According to the livid NPP members, their constituency’s party chairman, Samuel Akenya, has refused to make available the original registers to the 16 polling station officers.

They claimed the Constituency Chairman has instead made available other forms for the registration process which he will collate all registered names himself.

In the view of the constituents, this is a ploy to manipulate the election of party executives at the constituency level, through to the national level.

Speaking to Citi News at the NPP headquarters today, Thursday, the Communications Director for the group, Felix Dickson, said directives from the police and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to Samuel Akenya to release the original register, have yielded no results hence their action.

The group has been at the NPP headquarters since 5:00am, and is yet to meet any national party executive to whom, they can present their petition.

‘Controversial’ NPP constitutional amendment proposals withdrawn

The leadership of NPP over the weekend shot down some three ‘controversial’ proposals submitted for amendment to the party’s constitution.

President Akufo-Addo, while addressing party delegates at Kumasi in the Ashanti Region at the party’s Extraordinary National Delegates’ Conference said some of the proposed amendments “will be a disaster” if adopted.

The proposals included suggestions for Members of Parliament to appoint constituency executives, party members with dual citizenship to be disqualified from contesting for any party position and for the flagbearer of the party to be considered as the leader of the party

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By:citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The Turkish Journalists’ Association (TGC), the International Press Institute (IPI), Article 19, Swedish PEN, the Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and the Association of European Journalists (AEJ), joined the meeting, as well as a number of journalists.

The international press bodies have urged Turkish government to release the jailed journalists “without condition.”

TGC head, Turgay Olcayto, stated that journalists have been struggling since the foundation of the Turkish Republic, but “there was not any distressful era like this one.”

“Among imprisoned journalists, there are those who have only engaged in journalistic activities. We want to visit them as an association. However we have been never allowed to visit any of our friends so far,” Olcayto said.

“Journalists and media outlets are under massive pressure and the people do not have the right to access information. Despite this fact, the journalists continue to do their best even though they become unemployed. We are not losing our hope,” he said.

IPI’s coordinator for advocacy and communication activities, Steven Ellis, said in the meeting that they have participated in the meeting “as the press organizations that are concerned about the future of freedom of expression in Turkey.”

“The journalists are kept in jail in a completely unlawful way. It’s an unacceptable situation for a country that is expected to respect democratic processes. Bringing media freedom under pressure will not be limited to that profession only. Those who don’t respect human rights and democratic values cannot be partners that you can jointly act,” he said.

Sandy Bremmer from IPI also noted that “it’s unacceptable for Turkish government to bring the society and the journalists under pressure.”

Bremmer stated that “No journalists can be subjected to illegitimate treatment because of the work they do. The duty that awaits the international society is to react.

It’s their duty to stand against unlawful treatment. We are here to bring light to the prices the journalists pay. Those in jail only ask for one thing; they want journalism to be carried out freely.”

Article 19’s Georgia Nash, stated that “The charges which are far from solid evidence harm the trustworthiness of the judiciary.

According to the government, the journalists are terrorists, but they only show their articles as evidence. We demand the release of journalists without any conditions.”

Also speaking at the event, AEJ head, Otmar Lahodynsky, said that “Europe has been silent on the events that are unfolding in Turkey,” adding that the arrest of Germany’s Die Welt’s correspondent, Deniz Yücel, is a move to “tease international journalists.”

According to a report released by Stockholm Center for Freedom (SCF) on Jan. 26, 2017, Turkish government has jailed 191 journalists so far, and that most of the journalists have not even seen an indictment against them.

The report also stated that, 92 journalists are wanted for arrest, but remain at large either in Turkey or abroad.

SCF has also said that the number of media organizations seized and shut down by the government has reached 189.
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By: stockholmcf.org

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Officially opened in 2012, FOCOS Orthopaedic Hospital currently has a capacity of 50 beds, which can be expanded in future.

The hospital, described as one of very few state-of-the-art, full service specialty hospitals in all of Africa, is equipped with two operating theatres, an outpatient clinic, laboratory, physiotherapy centre, radiology centre and patient wards.

It has facilities such as a state-of-the-art Surgical Theatre, Radiology, Laboratory, Pharmacy and Physiotherapy departments

Founder and CEO of FOCOS Orthopaedic Hospital, Prof Oheneba Boachie-Adjei said “Orthopaedic surgery which involves operation on the musculoskeletal system, costs about $10,000 in Ghana compared to about $100,000 and though health insurance did not cover Orthopaedic healthcare delivery it was his wish that the government would pay at least 10% for Ghanaians in future.”

He was worried about the lack of advocacy for Orthopaedic healthcare in Ghana considering it being the fourth cause of death and disability in the world according to the WHO.

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Credit: FOCOS Orthopaedic hospital

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The EC on Monday announced its intention of requiring accreditation fees from journalists who wish to cover the elections.

Though the Commission is yet to determine the fee a statement signed by its Head of Communications, Eric Dzakpasu said “accreditation tags will be given to only those who have formally applied for it and for a fee to be determined by the Commission.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”U8qMIWYOxJsanM3qDpB0qtO1h2k9I0UH”]But the President of a group known as the International Standard Journalists Association, Dr. Nana Oppong said they will not pay for the accreditation but would cover the elections.

He said “we will cover the election but we will not pay the money that the EC is demanding and we are going to see what decision the EC is going to take against journalists who intend to cover free and fair and peaceful election in accordance with the constitution of the country.”

“We have options; one of the options is going to court, the reason why we haven’t gone to court is that the EC is already embroiled in too many court cases and what we think is that it doesn’t need another court case. What we need now is common sense to prevail and if that doesn’t work then obviously we would have to go to court.”

He also argued that the EC has been given huge sums of money from both government and donor partners to conduct the elections hence extorting money from journalists for accreditation is not necessary.

A separate statement filed by the association further urged the EC to do the right thing.

“We support the Electoral Commission’s mandate and endeavor to run a free, fair and peaceful election for Ghana in 2016. This mandate requires freedom of access by journalists and citizens alike to the Electoral Commission at any time before, during and after the elections.  Accordingly, we urge the Electoral Commission to govern herself accordingly and do the right thing,” the statement added.

It will be recalled that in September 2015, some journalists in the Ashanti and Western Regions, were asked by the EC to pay an amount of GHc 8 before getting accreditation to cover the exercise.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

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Mr. Francis Azuimah, the Executive Secretary of the council, said journalists should avoid indiscretion – anything unethical, likely to inflame passion and throw the country into turmoil as it inched closer to the presidential and parliamentary elections.

“We have had enough of electoral violence on the African continent and you owe it a duty to this nation to be professional and truthful in the discharge of your duties.”

Addressing a two-day workshop for the media in Kumasi, he reminded them about the need to be accurate, factual and balanced in their reports.

The programme was put together by the NPC with support from the European Union (EU), to build the capacity of the media to provide effective coverage in the coming polls.

Mr. Azuimah indicated that, the journalist had critical roles to play to keep the nation united and calm.

The NPC, he said, was therefore determined to deepen the conversation with the media to promote responsible journalism, to bring down political tension and prevent ugly clashes.

He announced plans to organize training programmes for the owners of media houses, to get them to properly streamline things to aid their workers to stick to professional ethics.

Mrs. Elizabeth Kankam-Boadu, the acting Ashanti Regional Chairperson of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), asked her colleagues to exercise good professional judgement at all times.

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Source: GNA

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