The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has raised concerns regarding recent changes in government structure while congratulating President Mahama on his election and Mr James Gunu on his nomination as Volta Regional Minister nominee.

Emphasising the vital role journalists and the media play in governance, the association now seeks to understand the rationale behind the removal of the Ministry of Information from the President’s list of ministries.

In a statement, the association said, “We are appealing for clarity from the President on the rationale for the removal of the Ministry of Information from his government portfolios. Our members, who are committed to upholding the principles of journalism, need to understand how these changes will affect media operations and governance.”

While the first Mahama administration merged the Ministries of Communication and Information, the current administration appears to have completely dissolved the Ministry of Information.

As a result, the association is calling for clarity on this policy shift.

In particular, there are concerns about the future management of state-owned media houses, such as the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) and the Ghana News Agency (GNA).

With no Ministry of Information in place, questions have arisen as to which ministry will now oversee the budgets and operations of these institutions.

Members working within these media houses are keen to know how these changes will impact their roles and the continuity of operations.

Additionally, there is a growing interest in whether the government plans to continue media development programmes from the previous administration, including the Media Capacity Enhancement Programme and the Coordinated Mechanism on the Safety of Journalists.

These initiatives have been essential in strengthening the media sector and ensuring journalists' safety, and there is hope that they will not be discontinued under the new government.

While the appointment of a Minister of State for Government Communication may provide some clarity, the association is calling for a comprehensive and transparent response from the President.

The future of Ghana’s media, its development, and the safety of journalists depend on clear answers to these pressing questions.

The Ministry of Information was one of the seven ministries either scrapped or merged with others by President John Mahama.

The other ministries that were either scrapped or merged with others are the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, the Ministry of Railways, the Ministry of National Security, the Ministry of Chieftaincy and the Ministry of Works and Housing.