CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS NOT GOOD FOR GHANA'S INT. REPUTATION 21st February, 2019

The Upper East Regional Information Officer [R.I.O] Mr. Bennin Issifu Douri, has stated that the phenomenon of frequent allegations of corruption in Ghana, be it actual or perceptive is not good for the country’s image building and international reputation.

He made the statement in a presentation at a two-day training workshop for the media on Service Delivery Standards and Social Accountability held at the A.A Country Side Hotel in Paga, capital of the Kassena-Nankana West District, Upper East Region. The Upper East Chapter of the Ghana Journalists Association [GJA] in partnership with some civil society groups organised the training funded by Starr Ghana.

 

Mr. Bennin Issifu Douri, Regional Information Officer - Upper East making a presentation

Mr. Bennin noted that no institution in Ghana be it state or private, is immune to corruption as there is always the tendency for people to be corrupt unless proper and effective checks are instituted and allowed to function. He emphasised that “media itself as a “watchdog”, the public and civil service as well as government and all its arms, have in one time or the other been hit with allegations of corruption”. To him, this won’t stop any time soon unless those found culpable in any alleged case were dealt with in order to send strong signals to anyone contemplating same.

The RIO however observed that nonetheless, the media plays very critical roles in Ghana’s democratic dispensation and could not be done without. He therefore charged media to continue to play its “watchdog” roles fairly, effectively and without fear or favour. He further called on journalists and other media practitioners to purge themselves so as to be able to monitor and do efficient and accurate reportage on service delivery standards in the country. He said the work of the media should bring to light issues where there are shortfalls so that appropriate authorities can act in timely manner to remedy the situation.

According to Bennin, aside the traditional roles of the media, the Ghanaian media performs other vital roles such as judicial, legislative and executive roles. His explanation is that, media practitioners especially journalists educate the public on Bills being discussed in Parliament even before they become law, they report on matters before the law court and they also report on the actions or inactions of the Executive. In this regard therefore, the media through its Agenda Setting functions can either whip-up the public for or against actions, policies or programmes of government.

Furthermore, he viewed the media as a strong link between the citizenry and duty bearers mostly takes charge of Social Accountability affairs by inviting public office holders into FM and TV studios to answer some queries whilst the public to demand answers through phone-in sessions. This he noted, makes the ordinary people feel part of the system as they have access to these platforms to engage their leaders and other officers paid by the tax payer to provide public goods and services.

Mr. Bennin observed that the Ghanaian media industry doesn’t pay well, that could not be an excuse for sub-standard media work. In addition, he said though there had always been rumours that majority of media establishments were owned politicians, journalists who choose to work with media outfits, must abide by the ethics of the profession at all times and also be guided by acceptable moral standards.

 

A Section of  Journalists at the training

A Regional Operations Manager with the Upper East Regional Directorate of the National Health Insurance Authority [NHIA], Mr. Kasimu Abudulai, made a presentation on the Free Maternal Healthcare Policy of Government under the NHIA. He mentioned some objectives of the policy to include facilitation of access to quality maternal healthcare delivery services to all mothers, helping to reduce the number of women and children who die from preventable pregnancy and labour-related problems and also, to encourage women to seek antennal and postnatal care as well as delivery at healthcare facilities.

Speaking on how to benefit from the Policy, Mr. Kasimu disclosed that all a woman needed was a pregnancy confirmation note from a Medical Officer, Midwife or Nurse and same then submitted to the NHIS for enrollment under the Policy. He added that women are required to register and enroll onto the NHIS free of charge in order to benefit from the Policy.

U/E GJA Chair, Mr. Eric Amoh [Head Down] at the training

Upper East Regional Chairman of the GJA Mr. Eric Amoh in his earlier remarks on the purpose of the training revealed that the GJA and some partners in the Civil Society arena including ACDEP, RISE Ghana and the Presby Health-North together submitted a proposal to Starr Ghana in 2018 for funding to help roll out programmes in aid of the country’s pro-poor policies such as the Health Insurance Scheme, maternal health, the LEAP and the fertilizer subsidy intervention. Some funds were accordingly released for the purpose and that culminated in the training for journalists from within the region.

Mr. Amoh held that, the role of the media in all of these was to play oversight on the implementing agencies and personnel to keep them in check and to ensure that, the target beneficiaries actually taste the fruits of these interventions.