Controversy over media fund disbursement
The disbursement of the GH¢1 million Media Development Fund has generated intense debate.
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While the Ministry of Information has stated that the fund was used to purchase 950 laptops which were given to the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and other media groups, the GJA contends that although it received some laptops from the Ministry of Information, the association was not told that they were purchased using the Media Development Fund.
Purchase of laptops
The Minister of Information and Media Relations, Mr Mahama Ayariga, told Parliament that the GH¢1 million Media Development Fund was used to purchase 952 laptops for journalists.
Mr Ayariga told Parliament that the laptops were purchased by the ministry after consultations with key media stakeholder groups – the GJA, the Private Newspaper Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG) and the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA).
In subsequent media interviews, the Information Minister has stated that majority of the laptops were given to the GJA.
Response from stakeholders
Mr Affail Monney, President of the GJA, admits that the association did receive some laptops from the Ministry of Information but insists that he was not aware that the Media Development Fund was used to purchase the laptops.
The GIBA has denied being part of consultations on how the fund was disbursed, as well as receiving laptops procured with the fund.
Meanwhile, the Editor of the Daily Graphic and immediate past President of the GJA, Mr Ransford Tetteh, has proposed the setting up of an independent board of trustees to manage the fund.
“This is taxpayers’ money and we have to ensure that we disburse the fund in a transparent and accountable manner,” he said.
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), for its part, wants the leadership of the GJA to explain to the media fraternity the extent of the association’s involvement in the disbursement of the GH¢1 million Media Development Fund.