The Finance Minister and Member of Parliament for the Karaga constituency in the Northern Region, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, has encouraged media owners to pay journalists well. He believes that doing so will help ensure that journalists remain professional and independent in carrying out their duties. Dr. Amin Adam acknowledged the challenging economic situation in the country but assured that the economy had shown significant signs of recovery.
“Knowing the kind of sacrifices you do in the discharge of your duties, we don’t reward you enough. I have interacted with a number of you and some of the proprietors of radio and TV stations as well as the newspapers and I’m mostly shocked about the conditions of service in which you work.
This is why I’m worried that despite the role you play in carrying the messages of the people to the government and also informing citizens about government policies and programmes, you continue to live in conditions that are not palatable for the role that you play. Speaking as the Guest Speaker st the Northern Regional Ghana Journalists Association Awards ceremony held on September 14 in Tamale, he urged the media owners to pay journalists well
I want to use this opportunity to call the proprietors of our media institutions to take steps to reward you appropriately for the great job you are doing and for the service you providing for our society.“
On the economy, the Minister underscored the achievements of the government despite the economic situation it finds itself.
“In 2016, we spent almost a billion cedis on the National Health Programme, last year we did 3 billion cedis and this year we spent 6.5 billion cedis under the health insurance scheme. So in spite of the economic challenges we face, we continue to invest in social interventions that keep our society above poverty.“ He called on journalists to use their platforms professionally to sustain the peace of the country before, during and after the 2024 general elections. Dr Amin Adam also pledged a 500,000 cedis scholarship scheme for journalists in the Northern Region to pursue higher education.
By: Christopher Amoako
