Melcom supports GNA, GJA and IFEJ

The Melcom Group of Companies has supported the Ghana News Agency (GNA) with two HP Printers and four office chairs, as part of activities marking the Agency’s 60th Anniversary Celebration.

In addition, the Group donated a 40 digital satellite LED television and a NASCO DVD player each to the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and the Institute of Financial and Economic Journalists (IFEJ).

The donation to the GJA was in support of its 2016 (22nd) Awards slated for Wednesday, December 20, while that of IFEJ was in support of its 2017 Flamingo Awards for Business and Financial Journalists, scheduled for Friday, January 26, 2018.

Mr Godwin Avenorgbo, the Director of Communications, Melcom Group of Companies, on Friday made the presentation to the three organisations in Accra.

Mrs Beatrice Akua Asamani-Savage, the News Editor of GNA, received the items on behalf of the Agency, whereas that of IFEJ was received by Mr Rayborn Bulley, IFEJ President.

The package for the GJA was jointly received by Mrs Audrey Dekalu, Treasurer, and Mr Albert Dwumfor, Organising Secretary.

Mr Avenorgbo said the Media, as the Fourth Estate of the Realm, must unite to become a voice of the voiceless, strong enough to ask for justice in case of denial, interrogative enough to expose ills in society and help find remedies and ethical enough to play it fair, all the time, by getting it right.

He said media practitioners work under very difficult conditions in the country in spite of the comprehensive media landscape featuring numerous radio, television, print, online and magazines among other media outlets.

“They lack security of tenure, majority are paid slave wages while quite a large number are not paid at all, so have to fend for themselves,” he said.

“Very few practitioners belong to the umbrella associations, which by the nature of their structure are unable to discipline members who do not apply ethics in the conduct of the practices,” he added.

Mr Avenorgbo said a vibrant media created awareness, adding that professional media practice ensured good governance and in consequence business growth and investor confidence.

He said: “We are hopeful that in the next year, positive measures will be taken to improve media practice to engender media freedom and access to information, improved conditions of service not just for key staff but for the generality of journalists, because it is team work that gives birth to the publications we read, listen to and watch on the various media platforms.”

Mr Avenorgbo said the Melcom Group was committed to improving quality service through the implementation of environmentally friendly business standards, including safety procedures at the work place, training of staff and provision of incentive packages to boost the morale of their hard working staff.

“We are grateful for the support Ghanaians have given us from all fronts and in all sectors of our business and we pledge to continue to improve on our services to make shopping a pleasurable experience at all Melcom shops nationwide,” he said.

Mr Avenorgbo lauded the GNA for fair, balanced and truthful reportage, especially on online media and news dissemination.

Mrs Asamani-Savage, on behalf of the Management and staff of the GNA, expressed gratitude to the Melcom Group for supporting the Agency’s 60th Anniversary celebration.

She said the GNA would continue to champion dissemination of truthful unbiased news to facilitate the development of Ghana to prosecute the African agenda.

Mrs Dekalu, on behalf of the GJA Executives and the members, expressed gratitude to Melcom Group for the kind gesture and urged other corporate entities to emulate its shining example.

Mr Bulley, on his part, thanked the Group for supporting IFEJ’s 2017 Awards slated for January 26, 2018.