Former Graphic Communications Group boss Dr Ken Ashigbey said on Joy News’ PM Express that the media sector must distinguish between professional journalists and those he calls charlatans.
Speaking on Monday, Ashigbey warned that funding for the media should also reinforce professional standards and reward responsible reporting. “We need to find a way in which we separate the charlatans who are just pretending to be media practitioners from those who are actually doing the media job,” he said.
The comments come after National Media Commission Executive Secretary George Sarpong proposed an index to track journalistic work, a move Ashigbey welcomed. He added that support should reach practitioners who demonstrate responsibility and cover issues that matter to national development, noting that “they have demonstrated that they are dealing with issues that are of concern to our national development.”
President John Mahama’s announcement of GH¢10 million in the 2027 budget as seed funding for the Media Development Fund prompted the discussion. The reactivated fund is intended to support journalists’ welfare, professional development, investigative reporting, digital literacy and safety training.
Ashigbey said self‑regulation must address unprofessional conduct but must be paired with measures that allow media businesses to survive and grow. “We need to do that, but we also need to put in place the systems that will let media businesses thrive,” he said, calling for experienced media management professionals to lead the effort.
He questioned the current approach to broadcast licensing, noting that issuing TV licences “like Confetti” could weaken media houses. He warned that restricting reach could hamper newsrooms’ capacity to carry out their work.
On managing the fund, Ashigbey proposed a small administrative team supported by technology and overseen by a broadly constituted board to distribute support transparently and attract additional funding. Beneficiaries should demonstrate both need and responsibility, and he cautioned against treating the fund as the industry’s only source of revenue.
He stressed that private commercial media and public interest journalism both have a place, urging entrepreneurs to build businesses that employ people, pay them well and contribute taxes. Responding to proposals for legislation on media workers’ conditions, he said a law alone would not solve the industry’s challenges. “But definitely, this bill alone is not going to solve the problem of a responsible, sustainable media entity,” he added.
As Ghana prepares to launch the Media Development Fund, stakeholders will watch how Ashigbey’s call for clearer standards and balanced support shapes the future of the country’s media landscape.
