Separate ‘charlatans’ from professional journalists – Ken Ashigbey

Former Graphic Communications Group boss, Dr Ken Ashigbey, has called for a clear distinction between professional journalists and those he described as charlatans posing as media practitioners.

Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Monday, he said efforts to fund the media must also strengthen professional standards and reward responsible journalism.

“We need to find a way in which we separate the charlatans who are just pretending to be media practitioners from those who are actually doing the media job,” he said.

His call followed a proposal by National Media Commission Executive Secretary George Sarpong to create an index to track journalistic work.

Dr Ashigbey backed the approach. He said support should reach practitioners who demonstrate responsibility and cover issues that matter to national development.

“They have demonstrated that they are dealing with issues that are of concern to our national development.”

The discussion follows President John Mahama's announcement of GH¢10 million in the 2027 budget as seed funding for the Media Development Fund.

The reactivated fund is intended to support journalists’ welfare, professional development, investigative reporting, digital literacy and safety training.

Dr Ashigbey said self-regulation must help address unprofessional conduct. But that effort must go alongside measures that allow media businesses to survive and grow.

“We need to do that, but we also need to put in place the systems that will let media businesses thrive,” he said.

He called for experienced media management professionals to lead those efforts.

He also questioned the approach to broadcast licensing.

“The issues where we are issuing out TV licenses like Confetti are things that we need to deal with.”

He warned that restricting media houses' reach could weaken them. He argued that newsrooms need sufficient capacity to carry out their work.

On managing the fund, Dr Ashigbey proposed a small administrative team supported by technology and overseen by a broadly constituted board.

That structure should distribute support transparently and attract additional funding. Beneficiaries should demonstrate both need and responsibility.

He also cautioned against treating the fund as the industry’s only source of revenue.

He said private commercial media and public interest journalism both have a place. Entrepreneurs must have room to build businesses that employ people, pay them well and contribute taxes.

Responding to proposals for legislation on media workers’ conditions, he stressed that a law alone would not resolve the industry’s challenges.

“But definitely, this bill alone is not going to solve the problem of a responsible, sustainable media entity.”