Journalists Are Poorly Paid- GJA Boss

The President of the Ghana Journalists Association, Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie says one of the main challenges facing the development of the media is poor remuneration of journalists.

She said the Association has received several complaints from journalists accusing media owners of exploitation.

"Although low remuneration can be described as a general problem, that for journalists in some establishments is pathetic," Affenyi-Dadzie said at the recent two-day Workshop at Agona Swedru in the Central Region on the state of the media in Ghana organised by the GJA.

She said the time has come for the GJA to work towards the well-being of its members and that the GJA would initiate dialogue with Association of Private Broadcasting Companies, Private Newspaper Publishers Association (PRINPAG) and other media owners on how best to improve the service conditions of members.

Affenyi-Dadzie added that the poor quality of social security of many retired journalists is also another is ample testimony of the abject conditions of service of journalists.

"We no longer can take conditions of service of our members for granted," she said emphasizing, "if work in the media is to improve, then efforts would have to be made to improve the general levels of remuneration and improve the social security and welfare of practitioners to enable them to live decent lives in their retirement.

"It is obvious that the media have paid their dues to making our democracy tick. We need to recognise the role of media professionals and together work to address their concerns for the good of the wider society" she said.

Quoting Mahatma Gandhi of India, the GJA President said, "there can be no press freedom if journalists exist in conditions of corruption, poverty and fear."