Media houses must have accountability systems to receive grants – George Sarpong
Media houses seeking grants from the Media Development Fund must have accountability systems, the Executive Secretary of the National Media Commission (NMC), George Sarpong, said.
George Sarpong, Executive Secretary of the National Media Commission (NMC), has emphasized that media organizations applying for grants from the Media Development Fund must implement accountability systems. Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express, Sarpong stated that transparent funding rules need to be accompanied by accountability within the organizations receiving assistance.
This advice comes in the wake of President John Mahama's announcement of GH¢10 million in seed funding for the reactivated Media Development Fund in the 2027 budget. The fund aims to support journalists' welfare, training, investigative journalism, digital literacy, and safety programs.
Sarpong stressed the need for the fund's administrators to establish clear procedures for determining who receives support. He proposed utilizing evidence of a media house's work to assess its application, citing the NMC's Credibility Measurement Index, which tracks coverage of issues such as children, agriculture, and health. Sarpong explained that this approach could help determine whether an applicant has demonstrated a commitment to the area for which it sought funding.
For instance, if a media house applied for support to enhance its coverage of maternal health, its commitment to that enterprise would be evident, and supporting it could further its work.
The NMC boss cautioned against developing a large administrative structure around the fund. Instead, Sarpong suggested creating a small committee of credible professionals, answerable to the profession via its stakeholders. The committee should possess expertise in fund management, an understanding of the media's evolving needs, and insights into what could improve the industry. He also advocated for individuals with fundraising skills to assist in attracting additional contributions.
According to Sarpong, the fund's operations should be grounded in credible management, transparent grant decisions, and accountable beneficiaries.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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