Based on its efforts to promote ethical and developmental journalism, the Melcom Care Foundation, a subsidiary of the Melcom Group of Companies has extended its support to the Centre for communication & Culture.
The Melcom Care Foundation donated an undisclosed amount towards the organisation of the Journalist Legendary Awards by Centre for Communication & Culture, which was received by Mr Enimil Ashon (Executive Director of the Centre for Communication and Culture).
The Awards, which are scheduled for September 25, 2022 are intended to recognize 13 seasoned journalists who have made significant contributions to the media scene while exemplifying a high level of professionalism.
These journalists include Mr Kofi Badu, one time sportswriter and Managing Director of Graphic Communications Group; Mr Cameron Duodu, Editor of the erstwhile ‘Orum’ magazine; Elizabeth Ohene, former Editor of the Daily Graphic; Kwesi Pratt, managing editor of the Insight newspaper.
The rest are Professor Kwame Karikari, a Media Educator and founder of Media Foundation for West Africa; Honourable Mrs Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie, first female President of GJA; Mr Kwaku Sakyi Addo, a print and broadcast journalist; Mr Abdul Malik Kweku Baako, Managing Editor of the New Crusading Guide.
Others include Nana Kofi Coomson, founding Editor of The Chronicle; Mr Godwin Avenorgbo, a broadcast journalist; Mr Akoto Ampaw, a lawyer and fighter for media freedoms and Honourable K.G Osei Bonsu, Minister of Information in the National Liberation Council regime.
Mr. Godwin Avenorgbo, the Director of Communications at Melcom, in a short ceremony to hand over the money to the group, noted that journalism leads and moulds its developmental in nature and ethical in practice.
“Versatile journalists operating within a strong, resolute, objective and fair media landscape is what Ghana needs at this critical time in our development process,” he stated.
That is the kind of media, according to him, which is not influenced by monetary, material and personal gain or profit; but motivated to dig deeply in search of the truth and project same in an objective and fair manner.
Mr. Avenorgbo continued that it’s without a doubt that party politics receives air time and online and also more volume on the pages of print newspapers than major developmental issues requiring our attention as a nation.
He disclosed that his outfit believes strongly that business and industry can grow bigger and better when the media leads the campaign to grow, consume and experience what is Ghana.
“You have the capability to lead the national interest by becoming the reliable voice of the voiceless in an all inclusive approach to courageous and well defined and informed journalism, which takes the side of truth by holding the 1st, 2nd and 3rd arms of our governance machinery accountable to the people for the benefit of the people and the National interest,” he added.
Mr Godwin Avenorgbo reinstated that investment levels increase when there is peace and freedom of expression and it takes bold journalists to lead the pack and be counted just as the selected 13 veterans who have been nominated for special mention by the Centre
for Communication & Culture.
“When that objective is attained the benefit to the larger society can be seen in increased employment by investors like the Melcom Group of Companies and others with the resultant economic benefits for all Ghanaians like improved wages and better conditions of service.
Until then the struggle continues so media must lead, guide, mould and influence positively without fear or favour,” he concluded.
