The National Media Commission (NMC) is to push for the engagement of ombudsmen in all media houses to help them self-regulate their content. The proposal is expected to be laid before media owners when the Commission meets them to discuss how the media can contribute towards the organization of a peaceful election in December. Chairman of the NMC, Kabral Blay Amihere gave the hint at a day’s forum organized by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) on strategies being adopted by the Commission to contribute to the organisation of free and fair elections. A media ombudsman is usually a very experienced media practitioner in tune with the ethical and legal environment in which the media operates and serves as a final gatekeeper. Detailing strategies to be rolled out by the Commission, the NMC Chairman said his outfit will establish a media monitoring system to monitor activities of the media. The monitoring system is also expected to ensure that the state-owned media grant all political parties fair and equitable access to their platforms. Touching on criticisms that the Commission is unable to effectively execute its mandate, the former Ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire explained that the apparent ineffectiveness is due to the fact that the NMC was “set up without the requisite logistics to deliver.” “What the NMC has lacked is capacity”, he said, adding that it also lacks “logistics to fulfill its gargantuan mandate given by society and the Constitution.” He indicated that the “issue of funds is so crucial and must be addressed by the state if the NMC must live up to its task.” The Executive Secretary of the NMC, George Sarpong in brief remarks noted that media advisory councils will be set up across the country for operational and governance reasons. He explained that this has become necessary since the NMC is only based in Accra, a situation he said limits its ability to monitor media houses operating outside Accra. He announced the establishment of a quick response commission to deal with issues that come before the NMC, explaining that a hotline will also be set up to receive complaints against the media.