GH¢10m media fund: ‘We need clear rules’ – MFWA

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has cautioned that any proposed GH¢10 million Media Development Fund must be accompanied by clear governance and accountability structures to ensure successful support for Ghana's media industry. The Foundation's Programme Manager, Kwaku Krobea Asante, stated that while President John Mahama's announcement of the fund was positive, its effectiveness would heavily rely on the administration, eligibility criteria for support, and measures to prevent political interference and misuse.

Mr Asante emphasized the importance of learning from other nations' experiences with media development funds, such as France, Scandinavian countries, Senegal, Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger, noting that a significant challenge in those initiatives has been ensuring the funds are utilized for their intended purposes. He pointed out that in 2013, the MFWA and other civil society organizations raised concerns about the handling of a previous GH¢1 million media development allocation, revealing unanswered questions about the procurement and distribution of laptops and other equipment.

Furthermore, Mr Asante recalled other announcements of media development funds by previous Finance Ministers, highlighting the need for a detailed examination of the latest proposal before placing too much trust in it. He urged stakeholders to focus on establishing transparent rules, criteria for selecting beneficiaries, and the nature of assistance, while also addressing concerns about partisan political interests and the eligibility of media houses.

Mr Asante stressed that the fund could significantly benefit the industry, particularly in helping media organizations cover operating costs, but stressed the importance of building the fund on transparent, independent, and accountable foundations.