DOVVSU, CSOs Warn Government: Don’t hurriedly Disband Alleged Witch Camps in Northern Region

Juliana Azumah Mensah, Minister for Women, Children's Affairs

The Northern Regional Coordinator of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service, ASP Emmanuel Holortu says, even though the proposed disbandment of the six alleged witch camps in the region by government and other stakeholders is good, he warns that it will be disastrous if it is done in a hasty manner.

According to him, it would be very difficult to ensure the safety of these aged women when they are reintegrated into the communities they originally hailed from, because they are likely to be lynched or killed by the same people who accused and chased them out of the communities. 

Madam Fati Al-hassan

Speaking at a day’s capacity building workshop in Tamale the Northern Regional capital of Ghana, ASP Holortu said that victims of witchcraft allegations need to be sensitized to understand that they don’t need to go back to their original communities to live normal lives, but could rely on support from government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to live anywhere in Ghana for their own safety and comfort.

Executive Director of Grassroots Sisterhood Foundation Fati Al-hassan who also joined the call by the DOVVSU Coordinator, said there must be in place pragmatic measures to ensure that any disbandment of the camps become successful and not further worsen the plight of inmates or create problems for the country’s image locally and internationally.

She proposed serious sensitization of the communities, youth, religious and traditional leaders as well as the security agencies to understand that witchcraft allegations or accusations are criminal and anyone or group of persons who accuses someone of witchcraft should be made to face the full rigours of the law. 

Madam Fati encouraged the media to join the crusade against witchcraft allegations by constantly reporting on such issues rather than focusing too much on political reporting which often spark insults and vilifications that were likely to jeopardize the peace and stability of the country.

The Gender Advocate and retired journalist also admonished women to be wary of people or in-laws who use witchcraft allegations to disinherit them of their late husband’s property. She advised them to always safeguard their inheritance first whenever such allegations crop up before they even think of clearing their name of the allegations leveled against them.

Under the theme: “Protecting Women Against Witchcraft Is a Civil Responsibility: Witchcraft Allegation Is Criminal”, the workshop was organised by Network for Women’s Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT) and Grassroots Sisterhood Foundation with funding from the African Women’s Development Fund.

It was organized for members of the Anti-Witchcraft Allegation Campaign Coalition (AWACC) and sought to sensitise the group, strengthen them, give them new dimension of the issues of witchcraft allegations and build cohesion amongst themselves as advocates to be able to reduce the incidence of witchcraft allegations. 

It was also to identify ways by which the Coalition could support the alleged witches to make a living by collaborating with any organization, foreign mission or government to provide these women with livelihood support programmes.

AWACC was formed in the year 2000 by a number of local civil society organizations and individuals to contribute towards addressing the issue of witchcraft allegations. The Coalition is a local gender and human rights advocacy initiative made up of forty-three individuals, local NGOs, community based organisations and women groups based in the three regions of the North, Upper West, Upper East and Northern Regions. 

Its objectives among others, are to stop the false witchcraft accusations and human rights violations of victims, create awareness and sensitise the public at large of the inhuman treatment meted out to women accused of practicing witchcraft, create alliance with human rights and women’s rights organizations, to collate data and other information on the subject of witchcraft accusations, work with collaborators to get outcast women reintegrated into their homes, make witchcraft accusations issues a national issue and get legislators/policymakers to support the campaign and in the long run, abolish the camps/homes gradually. 

Undisputedly, majority of Africans have strange beliefs that they associate with witchcraft, wizardry or sorcery. For instance, they belief witches and wizards fly in the night, walk upside down, eat human flesh, torture people out of envy, inflict people with incurable ailments, kill their enemies, turn to vampire bats, spark fire during night out, stall the progress of one’s business or academic performance, cause bareness, impotency, madness, among others.   

The belief in witchcraft or wizardry is also widely known to exist in every indigenous Ghanaian community, and particularly deep-rooted in the Northern Region. The abhorrent attitude of most residents toward suspected witches and wizards has led to the creation of what many call witch camps. This is because, victims of witchcraft who are largely elderly women, face penalties such as lynching or banishing from their community members and relatives who out of sheer ignorance and unnecessary anger, accuse them of spiritually killing a relative or causing misfortunes in their families or communities.

Currently, there are six alleged witch camps dotted around remote communities in the Northern Region which serve as habitats or refuge to about four thousand aged women including their children and grandchildren. These camps include Gnani and Kpatinga (Yendi Municipality), Kukuo (Nanumba North District), Gambaga (East Mamprusi District), Bonyase (Central Gonja District) and Nabuli (Gushegu District).

These women and their children live in varying degrees of discomfort and penury. Some do not have access to safe drinking water and are compelled to walk miles in the blistering heat during the harmattan season to fetch water. Others perform hard labour in the fields of nearby villagers in exchange for a bowl of cereal or tubers of yam. Those who are fortunate, have families that cater for them and occasionally send them food. Others are neglected by their families and left to fend for themselves, or rely on the benevolence of neighbours and other NGOs that provide them with aid. 

Zangbalun Bomahe-Naa Alhassan Issahaku Amadu – Northern Regional Population Officer, observed that the continuing celebration of witchcraft allegations in poverty-ridden Northern Ghana is further weakening the cohesiveness of social and family networks, increasing the illiteracy and school dropout levels, reducing the social value of grandmothers, mothers, sisters, aunties and children. “To whom much is given, much is expected. Our reward for women for us being born by women should be positive, not negative”, he preached. 

According to him, more women are accused of witchcraft because they are feeble, deemed unpleasant (awkward in old age), socially less empowered, verbalization of nagging issues, socialized to accept what men decide, over dependency on men for livelihood, low level of education, less assertive, lack of power or ignorant to seek legal redress, among others.

Zangbalun Bomahe-Naa Alhassan proposed fostering quality female education, engaging women in key positions at the Local and Central Government levels, improving livelihood sources of women to reduce their “male dependency syndrome” as well as active involvement of women in other forms of decision making processes so as to deal with the phenomenon. Adding, he said “There must be judicious application of National laws and local traditional norms on witchcraft allegation and related issues whilst abolishing alleged witches’ camps and integrate the in-mates into the larger society.”

He also emphasised on community sensitizations/advocacy, community durbars, radio discussions and jingles, video shows, focus group discussions, media engagement, expanding and supporting existing anti-witchcraft coalitions, integration of issues of witchcraft allegation into the country’s educational curricular among others as a way of educating the populace on the phenomenon. 

The Northern Regional Population Officer called on Ghanaians to desist from lynching people most especially women accused of witchcraft. “In fact, don’t accuse them. You have the moral obligation to prevent helpless women from being accused of witchcraft and treated badly”, he maintained.

New Electricity Company Launched In Northern Region

The Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo), a subsidiary of the Volta River Authority (VRA) has been launched in Tamale the Northern Regional capital, with a vision to become the leading utility for providing electricity distribution services in Ghana and the West African Sub-region.

The operationalisation of VRA/NEDCo is part of the Power Sector Reforms started in the 1990s, which followed the establishment and similar operationalisation of the Ghana Grid Company (GRDICo) in 2005 and 2008 respectively. 

The intended purpose of the VRA/NEDCo operationalisation is to bring additional resources, from both external and internal sources to supplement VRA’s on-going support of the current Northern Electricity Department (NED) operations, as well as provide it with the right organizational structure to manage its affairs more effectively.

After VRA/NEDCo’s operationalisation, it would be able to deal directly with government and regulators such as the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), on key issues pertaining to its viability and sustainability. In that regard, NEDCo would be eligible to file a tariff submission to PURC separate from what is filed by VRA. NEDCo would also be able to deal directly with multilateral agencies such as the World Bank and more clearly specify its needs and requirements for the successful delivery of its mandate.

Also, internally VRA/NEDCo will have a new organizational structure that would allow it to manage its affairs more directly without recourse or reference to VRA. This should also serve to streamline decision-making in the procurement of its strategic equipment and spares, the construction of needed buildings, and the development of its employees.

VRA/NEDCo, as a subsidiary company of VRA, would continue to receive financial and other required support from VRA until such a time that it becomes a viable and self-sustaining entity.

Operationalisation of NEDCo

According to the Managing Director of NEDCo John Nuworklu, the decision to operationalise VRA/NEDCo was supported by the Volta River Development (Amendment) Act 692 of 2005, which repealed PNDC Law 171 of 1987. Act 692 he said enabled VRA to set up VRA/NEDCo to take over electricity distribution activities in the Northern sector of the country. “Act 692 also mandated VRA to continue to retain responsibility for VRA/NEDCo operations over an undefined transition period”, he added.

Mr. Nuworklu noted that VRA/NEDCo’s vision of becoming the leading electricity service provider in Ghana and the Sub-region has been burdened by many challenges which include dispersed distribution network with higher than normal operations and maintenance cost; outdated distribution network which needs rehabilitation and reinforcement; and inadequate funding for renewal of infrastructure.

He said even though the challenges were daunting, they were surmountable in view of the unwavering commitment and support of government, VRA, VRA/NEDCo and customers.

Policy Statement and Programme of Action

Mr. Nuworklu confessed that there was work to be done everywhere and the state of VRA/NEDCo calls for bold and swift action now, stressing that “we will drastically improve service delivery to our cherished customers. We will also make VRA/NEDCo, an organization of choice for genuine business transactions, and a company which people will be eager to identify with as well as feel proud to work for.”  

We are determined to lay a new foundation for operational excellence, cost recovery and growth; therefore transforming VRA/NEDCo from a slow-moving and loss-making institution into an efficient, customer-sensitive and high performing organization, he promised. 

Deputy Minister for Energy, Alhaji Abdulai Inusah Fuseini

Management, the MD noted would explore existing opportunities to expand VRA/NEDCo’s market share within its operational area as well as across the borders of Ghana.

A Deputy Minister of Energy Alhaji Abdulai Inusah Fuseini who delivered a keynote address assured NEDCo of the unflinching support of government in ensuring the success of the company. “The doors of the Ministry of Energy are widely opened to partner with you in all areas of your endeavours to enable you meet your mission of providing adequate and reliable electricity supply to citizens in the northern part of the country,” he added.

Meanwhile, the staff strength of VRA/NEDCo has grown from about 450 in 1987 to close to 900 currently, representing a mere 100% rise whereas the customer population has grown from below 18,000 to over 380,000, representing a massive 2000% rise. That notwithstanding, the bulk of VRA/NEDCO’s customers are in the residential and “subsidized” category often referred to as lifeline customers. 

FARMERS INTEND TO DRAFT OWN MANIFESTO FOR POLITICAL PARTIES

Recent development in Ghana has underscored the importance of political party manifesto in setting national development agenda, as it has become so important after elections that, both opposition parties and citizens in general, make reference to it while demanding accountability from government.

The political party manifesto has now become the watershed of national development policy. It is thus vital to ensure that the development of these manifestoes are inspired to reflect accountable governance and smallholder farmers priorities, if sustainable and inclusive development is to be realized in Ghana.

Participation in political processes such as presidential and parliamentary elections has mainly been led by political parties which have defined and driven agenda based on party ideologies. Citizen influence on political party agendas has often not been systematic, consolidated and sometimes has lacked the necessary pragmatism to ensure that elections are driven by citizens demands.

Due to the lack of systematic engagement between citizen’s and their aspiring leaders, accountability has often been missing in the aftermath of elections. A key observation in most political processes is that, the elected leaders do not work with their constituencies and seldom come back to account for their commitments and actions. Thus, the building of strong and accountable leaders and institutions often lacks the key building blocks, which are active citizenship. In this regard, strong governance institutions that can deliver and secure rights to key services and human needs must start and end with the people. But this is also a process that has significant lessons for both civil society and electoral institutions and the general lack of documented evidence of how civil society engages in electoral processes beyond election monitoring and peace building is a key area for learning and research.

In 2008, the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) in collaboration with the Ghana Federation of Agricultural Producers and the Ghana Agricultural Workers Union of the Trades Union Congress held a one-day forum with the then presidential candidates of the main political parties to tell farmers what they had in their manifestoes for small scale farmers. This activity fell short of expectations as the farmers did not make any input into the manifestoes which could serve as a base for holding the government accountable.

Thus, ahead of the 2012 elections, PFAG in collaboration with OXFAM GB, Ghana, is going a step further in consultation with small scale farmers across the country and other stakeholders including civil society organizations and NGOs in the agricultural sector and traditional leaders, to develop a Farmers’ Manifesto that would demand addressing challenges that hamper the development of small scale agriculture and food security, through increased investment in that sector.

The manifesto, according to the National Secretary of PFAG John Akaribo who was addressing a zonal consultative meeting of farmers in Tamale, would be used to engage key political parties and targets, to ensure that their voices and aspirations are reflected in the parties’ manifestoes and in agricultural policies and programmes that would emerge after elections, thus increasing space for accountability. He said consultations would be held in the three zones of the country namely; the Northern, Middle and Southern zones.   

The driving force behind the move taken by the PFAG is the fact that majority of Ghanaians are smallholder agricultural producers that rely on farms less than two (2) acres for their food and income. But in spite of their diverse strategies in creating wealth for themselves and improving their lives, small scale farmers according to Mr. Akaribo were the poorest in the country due to challenges that hamper their progress. These include insecure and fragmented land holding, high cost of inputs leading to low input, declining soil fertility, low access to financial services, high interest rates, market liberalization and removal of subsidies which all have led to low productivity. 

He said Ghana has made exciting progress on poverty reduction having halved it from 56% in 1990 to 20% by 2006. Adding that, in 2011 economic growth rate of 12% was recorded, however 5% (nearly 1.2million) of the population was food insecure according to a recent study by the government and the World Food Programme (WFP) and 2million were vulnerable (women and children) and at the brink of becoming food insecure; most of these were in the highly deprived Northern Regions. Stark disparities Mr. Akaribo also noted exist regarding the food secure population, citing 34% of the people in Upper East Region who were experiencing food insecurity whilst 1% was in the Greater Accra Region.

This situation the National Secretary of PFAG observed calls for rigorous investment in smallholder agriculture that would drive economic development, reduce poverty, increase rural incomes and improve wealth creation. The phenomenon of under-investment in smallholder agriculture Mr. John Akaribo indicated was partly explained by the absence of clear, separate and strategic financing scheme for the smallholder agricultural sub-sector. There was, therefore, the need for farmers and political stakeholders to begin discussions on the subject of smallholder agricultural development financing to ensure its effective and sustainable development, he stressed.

The National President of PFAG Mohammed Adam Nashiru in a statement expressed pessimism over the successes of government programmes such as fertilizer subsidy, mechanization, buffer stock and youth in agriculture in addressing poverty, hunger and malnutrition. 

He called for commitment of the country’s politicians to agricultural transformation and improved livelihoods between small scale women and men farmers, stressing that this commitment could only be shown if the farmers manifesto was considered in their manifesto for 2012 elections. The manifesto would be used as bases for accountability on delivery on their promises for the small scale agricultural sector, he hinted. 

According to Mr. Nashiru, the meeting was to enable the farmers brainstorm among themselves and decide on what they wanted to see in political parties’ manifestoes for small scale farmers, adding that the outcome would be the farmers’ manifesto which will be launched and presented to political parties for consideration in their manifestoes for 2012 elections.

The National President of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana also used the occasion to call on all citizens of Ghana to cherish and nurture the peace they were enjoying. He called on all political parties, party supporters, all tribes and ethnic groups from all regions to exercise restraint before, during and after the elections and avoid counterproductive behaviors.

Falling Professional Standards In The Media: The case of radio stations in Northern Ghana and who should be blamed

Joseph Ziem, Freelance Journalist

"Ziem..!!! You look so-o-o-o-o good. Life is good for you-o-oh. At least, those of you who’re journalists don’t have any problem. I saw you the other time on television when I was watching news. You were sitting with “BIG MEN” including the Regional Minister, Vice President and some other dignitaries in a workshop."

Comments like the one above from some friends I bumped into recently, made me feel like I was indirectly mocked at or flattered. Seriously speaking, as much as I tried to give them an honest response for the songs of praises and worship they sang for me, they simply brushed it off and told me to stop giving them flimsy excuses.

And they continued: “You think we don’t know that you’re enjoying eh? How can a whole journalist too complain of ‘holes’ in his pockets? Are you a teacher?” they asked amidst laughter. They wished they were journalists, I said to myself. But apart from the fame and meeting important personalities in one-on-one interviews, what else do journalists gain from the profession? Nothing, I said to myself as my silence to their flattery behaviour forced them to pause laughing for a while. 

  

The fact that you meet a journalist looking good (nicely dressed) doesn’t mean that he/she earns a gargantuan amount of salary every month. That has been my response to friends whenever and wherever we meet and they begin to talk about working conditions and other matters of life. Journalists by nature of their profession must be properly dressed, I told them, adding that, they (teachers) are even fortunate that they earn good monthly salaries and probably with some allowances, yet complain as if they were worse off than a public toilet keeper. Quite apart from that, they’re sure of regular salary increase anytime there is some fuel price increase. And how about journalists, most of whom at times can’t even bargain for an increase in salary; simply because they are afraid their employers might sack them and employ someone they (employers) think they can pay whether he/she is qualified or not? I asked and the response was like the stillness in the cemetery at midnight.  

I took my time just to educate these friends on the bad conditions of service if not worse, which pertains in the inky profession—a profession that is so much adored and respected by many people worldwide most especially at places where free speech is uncommon or where there are many entities and individuals seeking to do propaganda.  

I cautioned them solemnly against ever compelling their children to become journalists in the future unless it’s their wish and desire. I continued by saying that, the only benefit that I, like many journalists, derive from the profession and which keeps me going, is the respect and praises people like you (referring to them) shower on me anytime you see me and nothing else.

Sounding like a Roman Catholic priest delivering a homily at a Sunday mass, I admonished them that the journalism profession was a calling to serve God and humanity, and not a place to make money or amass wealth. Indeed, journalists are the most poorly paid the world over except for those working in state-owned media organisations and other few private media companies which are richer and can afford to pay their staff well. Even pastors are better than journalists in the sense that, they are paid well by their congregation to stay and do the work of God, although they say their work is a calling, I added. To survive in journalism, one must fall in love with the profession, be passionate about it and be willing to sacrifice his/her life just for the truth to prevail and the wrongdoings in society to stop. If you’re lucky, you may be remembered as a martyr.

If you (referring to my friends) don’t want to curse your child for not being able to send you money to buy porridge and take care of other needs in your old age because you think he/she is a journalist, then I would advise that you rather persuade him or her to work in the bank, oil and gas company, telecommunications company, CEPS, Parliament, etc, because these are the places where one can earn so much.

Journalism is so much adored and respected by many because everyone looks up to practitioners to speak for them in times of difficulties, but hardly do they speak for themselves as if to suggest that they don’t even have problems at all. In fact, journalists have serious bleeding problems ranging from pitiable conditions of service which include very lean salaries, interference in their job by employers and persons or groups linked to the media houses, lack of logistics to function well, lack of training for them to upgrade their skills and lack of security among others. For me, salary is the most serious issue that must be addressed. Finally, I capped the conversation with my friends with a quote: "The LORD looked at my work and was very glad. He then looked at my salary; He bowed his head, turned away and wept." This is because the salary of journalists is nothing to write home about, thus drawing the tears of the LORD which is a sign of pity for them.       

Now back to the focus of this article: why I think owners of media houses should be blamed for the falling media standards in Northern Ghana.

 

I have been living in Northern Ghana specifically Tamale, for six years now. I have tasted rough times in-between good times as journalist and as Joseph Ziem. I launched my journalism career in one of the most vibrant and most-listened-to radio stations in Tamale in October 3, 2006. I worked in various capacities as News Reporter, Production Assistant, Deputy News Editor, and finally left in 2010 as News Editor. Thanks to Mr. Edmond Gyebi of The Chronicle Newspaper and TV Africa, who groomed me to the extent that, I write almost like him. I can vouch that he’s among the top five best journalists in the Northern Region currently. Please, that’s my opinion and no one can take it from me. 

Between 2006 and 2010 that I worked in the radio industry, there were only five (5) Commercial Radio Stations operating in the Tamale Metropolis including Fiila FM 89.3Mhz, Diamond FM 93.7Mhz, Radio Justice 98.5Mhz, North Star FM 92.1Mhz and the State-owned Savannah Radio 91.2Mhz. Currently, there are eight (8) radio stations with the latest ones being Bisharah Radio 97.7Mhz, Might FM 90.5 MHz and Zaa FM 99.3Mhz. There is also Eagle Fm 90.5MHz in Walewale. In fact, I can confidently state that there are two more due to be launched very soon, bringing the total number to ten (10). Additionally, there are four Community Radio Stations namely; Saboba Radio, Fusion FM, PAD FM and Simli Radio. 

In the case of Upper West Region, there operates state-owned Radio Upper West 90.1 MHz, Radio Progress 98.2Mhz, Hits FM 108.1 (closed down) as well as two Community Radio Stations which are Radio FREED 92.3 and Rasford FM 107.5. In the Upper East Region, they include state-owned URA Radio 89.7 MHz, Style FM 99.3Mhz, Rock FM 103.7 (closed down) and A1 Radio 101.1 Mhz as well as three Community Radio Stations which include Word FM, Nabina FM and Builsa Radio. Indeed, the radio industry in the North (Upper West, Upper East and Northern Regions) is growing very fast considering the fact that it’s a powerful medium to put information across for public discourse. 

Falling media standards, the cause and who should be liable

At a time that media analysts say that the radio industry in Northern Ghana particularly Tamale is growing so fast, there is in fact a serious shortfall of competent and experienced journalists as well as presenters, to entertain, inform and educate the masses, most of whom are so ignorant about a lot of happenings going on in the country. In other words, most of the presenters or journalists working with these radio stations particularly the private ones, lack a deep sense of knowledge and understanding of contemporary topical issues ranging from basic economics to agric, education to gender, politics to governance, current affairs to civic education and so on, which people need to be abreast of in order to make informed decisions and choices for their lives.    

It is true that one can become a journalist no matter the person’s academic background. That is, it doesn’t matter whether the person read agric, medicine, engineering, fashion, pure science, music or whatever at the university, college or high school. But, I think above all these, he/she must be someone who can read, write or speak very good and comprehensible grammar. Besides, he/she must be the type that learns very fast in terms of acquiring knowledge in workshops and seminars as well as making very good use of the knowledge acquired.   

Sadly, most of the journalists and presenters in some of these stations write and speak very bad grammar and they know next to nothing in the topics they table for discussion. It’s not their fault. There are no experienced producers or programme directors in most of these stations to ensure that quality programmes are delivered on air. This is because, owners of some of these stations have over the years relied on cheap labour by way of recruiting staff to man the news and programmes departments, hence the poor output on air to a society where majority of its population is not so well educated.    

Majority of the presenters, apart from being unprofessional or untrained, also invite panelists with little or no knowledge about topics tabled for discussion. The presenters and their panelists sometimes end up ‘poisoning’ the minds of their listeners, which trigger unhealthy reactions from the public, especially during phone-ins. Managements of most of these stations have over the years recruited unskilled and inexperienced presenters and journalists to work for them, whereas the few qualified and experienced ones they had, also left them due to poor remuneration and frosty working relationships resulting from disrespect and interference from the former. 

Besides, most of the owners of these media houses don’t see it as a necessity to organise professional development workshops for their staff and also pay them pittance which cannot help most of them to continue their education or seek knowledge improvement in institutions that provide such expertise. My interaction with some new and former staff of the radio stations in Tamale, Bolgatanga and Wa revealed, that most of them are paid between the range of GH¢30.00 and GH¢200.00 a month, when in actual fact, owners of these stations particularly those in Tamale, could pay them between GH¢400.00 and GH¢600.00 a month. 

In fact, even most of the staff of these stations don’t have social security and are on what is best called monthly allowance and not salary. Some of them told this writer that, salary increase is not based on merit or competence and experience, but only when the owner of the station likes your face or thinks that you sympathise with the political party that he/she belongs. Can you imagine what someone would be taking after retirement if he/she is or was earning GH¢100.00 a month as salary? What about those not on salary but allowance?  

What needs to be done to stop the standards from falling?

First of all, lest owners of these radio stations in the three cities particularly Tamale hire the services of competent and experience journalists and presenters, and pay them well to provide quality, educative and informative programmes, many people like me would only to tune in to their stations when they link up with their affiliate stations abroad and in the nation’s capital, Accra. As one Senior Journalist and Managing Editor of the Al hajj Newspaper Alhaji Iddrisu Bature told The Africawatch in an interview in February 2012,: “Journalists are the cheapest and easiest people to be bribed in Ghana. That is a fact”. So the question is, how do you expect a journalist earning GH¢40.00 or GH¢60.00 as salary or allowance to refuse a bribe of lest say GH¢200.00? Whose fault is it? Your guess is as good as mine. 

Secondly, owners of these media companies must also stop interfering with the job of the few qualified personnel they currently have at their disposal and allow them to do their work as professionals. I will cite myself as an example. I had the opportunity to work with a media organization where the C.E.O, for his own parochial and selfish interest, would often accuse me of being a member of the National Democratic Congress whenever I published a story that is critical of the party he belongs to – New Patriotic Party. But, when I wrote similar stories critical of the NDC, he never accused me of being NPP or belonging to any of the other political parties. Why? So, I will advise that, C.E.Os or managers, who are like the aforementioned, must endeavour NOT to dictate to the few experience journalists/presenters they currently have otherwise, they will desert them and seek opportunities elsewhere. 

Thirdly, owners of media houses must also make it a point to periodically organise training workshops for their staff in order to enhance their professional and managerial skills. Just as it’s good to periodically change the engine oil of your automobile machine in order to make it more roadworthy or efficient, so is it good to refresh the skills and knowledge of your staff so that their output would impact well on the station’s target audience and bring more money to your company. A good broadcaster is someone who has been trained over and over again in most periods of his/her professional career and make good use of what he/she has learned by making a positive impact in the lives of his/her listeners or viewers. 

Fourthly, in places like Accra, Kumasi, Sunyani and other regions in the Southern part of the country, experienced journalists and presenters are poached or signed on to long term contracts by media owners who are serious-business-minded-people. Some of the contracts come with free cars, free accommodation, scholarships and free life/health insurance among others. Maybe, its time owners of radio stations in the North also adopted such moves in order to improve upon their programming, which will culminate into attracting many customers and listeners since they are business entities and can only continue to exist when they make profit. 

Last but not least, commercial radio in contemporary times has gone beyond just sending marketing executives out to source for customers to come and advertise their products and services. In fact, I feel sorry for marketing managers of radio stations in Tamale for instance, who boldly say without any shame, that their outfits are not making money or profits. If there is no money, why are many financial institutions and business entities opening up branches in the city? Now radio marketing is about events and promotions, and not sitting comfortably in your swiveling chair waiting for people to bring you announcements to read on your networks. So, I will urge owners of radio stations who want to survive in this business to begin to think innovatively otherwise they will soon fizzle out.