STAR-Ghana supports 21 media outlets
STAR-Ghana, a multi-donor funding agency, yesterday awarded a grant of $2 million to 21 media organisations in the country.
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The grant is to support media organisations to work more effectively with other civil society organisations (CSOs) on advocacy issues for greater transparency, responsiveness and accountability at all levels governance.
The beneficiaries comprised of seven television stations, two Information and Communication Technology (ICT) based projects, 11 radio stations and the Ghana News Agency (GNA).
Some of them are Shaft FM, Ankobra FM, Blogging Ghana, TV3, Multi TV, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), Kesmi FM, Diamond FM, Ghana Community Radio Network, Skyy Media Group, International Institute for ICT Journalism, Rural Media Network, Creative Storm Networks among others.
while GBC is undertaking a documentary project on the disparities in private and public education, Kesmi FM, a radio station based in Tamale, seeks to undertake a project aimed at raising the awareness and reducing stigma in mental health through media advocacy in northern Ghana.
They are to undertake their various projects with the grant within a period of two years.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Accra, the Chairman of the Steering Committee of STAR-Ghana, Professor Akilakpa Sawyerr, said proposals were received from 64 media organisations nationwide out of which 21 were finally selected.
He said it was important to build the capacity of the media as they “are the key stakeholders of change”, hence the need to raise the quality of coverage on topical governance issues.
He, therefore, challenged the beneficiaries to put the grant received to good use for the benefit of all; saying, “use it to influence policies for better service delivery.”
The Programme Manager of STAR-Ghana, Mr Ibrahin-Tanko Amidu, expressed optimism that the grant would help push the media organsiations to do more in educating and informing the public about issues of importance to society.
The Chairman of the Funders Committee and Member of the Steering Committee, Mr Jens-Peter Dybark, challenged the media to be innovative in finding ways to help the public have a voice in the society.
The Director General (DG) of GBC, Major Albert Don-Chebe, in his remarks, thanked STAR-Ghana for the support shown to the media over the last three years of its existence, adding that the resources provided would be put to good use.
By Zainabu Issah/Daily Graphic/Ghana
