The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and the National Media Commission (NMC) have called on the government to adequately fund state-owned media organisations.

The two bodies say the constitutional injunctions on the state to provide adequate and fair coverage of political activities as well as their public service responsibilities, require that the state-owned media are provided with the wherewithal to execute the mandate and to be competitive.

The two bodies made the oft-repeated demand once again at the 28^th GJA Media Awards in Accra on Saturday.

GJA President Albert Dwumfour was particularly concerned about the Ghana News Agency (GNA) and the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC).

Delivering his address at the media awards, Dwumfour emphasised the importance of empowering these institutions to fulfill their public service mandates effectively.

He urged the government and the Ministry of Information to lead efforts in improving the financial well-being of journalists, noting that media professionals are among the lowest-paid in the country.

"As former U.S. President Barack Obama once said, strong institutions, not strong individuals, are responsible for developing nations and ensuring accountability," Dwumfour reminded the audience, which included President Akufo-Addo and Information Minister Fatimatu Abubakar.

He added that adequate resourcing of state-owned media would set a positive example for private media organisations, encouraging them to improve the welfare of their journalists.

NMC Chairman, Yaw Boadu Ayeboafoh, adding his voice to the calls, said Clauses 11 and 12 of Article 55 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution impose a responsibility on the state to provide equal coverage to all presidential candidates and all political parties.

“Since that responsibility is imposed on the state, it becomes necessary that the state equips the state-owned media with the capacity to deliver on the mandate that they have been charged to deliver.”

He said the theme of the GJA celebrations; “75 years of Excellence in Journalism, the Role of the Media in Democratic Governance and Elections”, imposes on the media the obligation not only to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections but more importantly, to strengthen democracy and promote good governance.

“This is the only country of ours and therefore we must always be guided by the necessity of ensuring that we do not allow ourselves to be misused to undermine our collective interest for parochial gain”, he said.

He added that Ghana is far more important than any individual or any political party, and that is why those in the media must at all times act professionally and see their work as public service.

Ayeboafoh said; “After 75 years of our existence, we must ensure that we contribute more healthily and qualitatively and professionally to national development rather than serve to undermine growth and development.”