Accra, May 27, GNA – Information Minister, Mr John Tia Akologu, on Friday expressed regret about the falling standards of professionalism in the media and called for action to improve the quality of work before the situation got out of hand.
He said the falling standards were preventing many people from going into public office because they feared their reputation would be soiled, adding that a lot needed to be done to stem the tide considering the enormous influence of the media.
The Minister said this when Management of Viasat Television called on him in Accra to inform him about the company’s decision to go into news production.
Mr Akologu stressed the need for professional work in the wake of recent public outcry about missing gaps in the media’s work.
“If you stick to the rules and help redeem the image we can then assure you of all the needed support and take into consideration the fact that the Ghanaian society abhors pornography,” he said.
He expressed the hope that when the draft amendment bill to revise the Cinematography Act of 1961 was passed into law it would provide the machinery to streamline the film industry.
The Information Minister called on the film industry to make informed input into the bill when it got to parliament or blame themselves for any eventualities and entreated Viasat to ensure fair competitiveness and stick to the rules of the industry.
“Quality work is very important,” he said, and added that it would be pertinent for them to organise refresher courses to keep their professionals abreast of current practices.
Mr Baba Jamal Ahmed, Deputy Information Minister, cautioned management of Viasat to endeavour to treat their Ghanaian workers fairly and with decorum and ensure that they stuck to rules that guaranteed that a percentage of their content was local.
Mr Rainer Laux, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Modern Africa Production, a sister station of Viasat, said since Viasat’s establishment in 2008 it had worked tirelessly to bring about professionalism into its work.
He said the company wanted to venture into news production because of its relevance and would work assiduously to raise the bar in the profession.
Mr June Skugeng, CEO of Viasat, said the company had built a modern studio and would open offices in Takoradi and Tema. It has so far employed 75 Ghanaians.
