Government to support bloggers, online journalists

Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has revealed government’s plans to provide support for bloggers and journalists who ply their trade in the digital space.

According to the Minister, who was addressing the leadership of the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) who had paid a courtesy call on him, the government is working with the Ministry of Business Development to help bloggers and online journalists.

“We’re are also working, as I mentioned a few days ago, with the Ministry of Business Development to provide technical and financial assistance for bloggers and a lot who do work on the online platforms,” he said.

He said the support is for the beneficiaries to realise that what they do fall in the category of media business regardless of the sizes of their establishment.

“…so that they can also understand that that is media business that may not require a whole media house. It’s media business especially those in the financial and development journalism space,” he said.

The Minister of Information also observed that even though there is a lot of potential in the Ghanaian media, the government will collaborate strategically to enhance that potential through capacity-building programmes.

The Ofoase-Ayirebi Constituency Member of Parliament was, however, not happy the way the media use opinion journalism and social media in news productions.

He hinted of government’s plans to have fake news, opinion journalism and social media usage examined.

Meanwhile, the GJA also reminded the government on the need to have a protection policy for journalists.

The call of GJA follows the assassination of Ahmed Hussein-Suale, a member of the Tiger Eye PI team, who was on Wednesday shot dead at Madina.