OUR JOURNALISTS; THE MISTAKEN CULPRITS

Ghana is a nation that has had a lot of prominent personnel in the past from all fields of life. There still are very eminent people being hailed from the nation and today, l took the chance to write on the Ghanaian journalists. The Ghanaian journalist is probably the second in line for most flak after the politician. It is very unfortunate on them owing to the point that the Ghanaian journalist has made tremendous contributions to the development of the nation and still continues to add their quota to the survival of the nation. 

the late Komla Dumor; an epitome of talent courtesy myjoyonline.com

To begin with, the media landscape in Ghana is generally not the best that one could boast of. The media is saddled with all kinds of problems and challenges. The journalist is always at the centre of every activity involving the media so much that the journalist could almost be synonymous to media in the country, so in the midst of all challenges, it is sacrosanct the Ghanaian journalist gets a pat at the back, even if it will take a blog post to do so.

Challenges with regards to poor working environment, limited and substandard working resources, inadequate training facilities, meagre financial remunerations, and lack of security for the journalists have all become normal to the Ghanaian journalist. Ghanaian journalists have become accustomed to the harsh conditions in which they work that they deem them as realities of the job. Yet, the Ghanaian journalist continues to set new standards, inform, educate, entertain, and inspire the nation day in day out.

Talents of all forms abound in Ghana, and the field of journalism holds no different edition to the story of abounding talents. Be it in eye contact, articulation, voice control, and movement in front of the camera, just name them, the Ghanaian journalist fits in the bill perfectly. The exploits of the late Komla Afeke Dumor with the British Broadcasting Corporation, and Kwabena Yeboah with AFNEX are proofs of recent memory of the Ghanaian journalist, and a lot more examples are readily available in the country.

The honesty of the Ghanaian journalist is unrivalled. The Ghanaian journalist puts the issues across as they appear in black and white. The Ghanaian journalist is a divorce from fallacies and perversion. My journalist does not revel in causing any form of ‘’alluta’’ through deliberate misinformation of the public. The openness of the Ghanaian journalist is remarkable.

Furthermore, the accuracy of journalists in my country is simply mind blowing. It was with much awe that l watched journalists in my nation present petition at the supreme court of Ghana. Be it in sports, entertainment, politics etc, Ghanaian journalists are always at top of their game with regards to the presentation of the all facts.

Kwesi Pratt Jnr, a measure of objectivity and accuracy                           credit; spyghana.com

Another aspect of journalists in my nation worth noting is their enthusiasm and passion. Whenever on the airwaves to discharge their duties, which they always do with aplomb, it means much to them than just a presentation, it is their life- a dream they have always had since childhood. In the same light, whenever a freelancer, reporter and editor puts a pen to paper to write, they always do it with utmost dedication and love to set the nation better, and not merely with the mindset of making money. The love of the Ghanaian journalist towards the job is fascinating.

In addition, the Ghanaian journalist is always objective. Journalists in my country do not condone any propaganda neither do they carry out bias campaign against a particular ‘’subject’’. I always marvel whenever l listen to Mr Kwesi Pratt Jr. on any national discourse. Also, l rejoice as l listen to Evans (joyfm), Kokui and Patrice (viasat 1), Kwame Kayi (peace fm), Dzidodo (hogbe radio), Gary Al-Smith (citi fm), Jay Foley (y fm) and all other journalists in the various media houses in the country drill their panellist just to get to the meat of the matter. The Ghanaian journalist is devoid of any crooked act in the delivery of their duties. 

Kwame Sefa Kayi, major general of the airwaves credit; ghanagist.com

Finally, it is not all dancing and dining as made clear in our local parlance ‘’ there is a Kofi in every house’’. In as much as there may forms of dubious journalist in the nation, the white light from the majority outshine the few unscrupulous ones. In any case these dubious journalists are not Ghanaian journalists in my assessment. They are political journalists who are carrying out assignments of their masters/lobbyists. Let us not pay attention to them for their wrong doings will catch up with them sooner than later. I am convinced the Ghanaian journalist could give more if rightly supported.