Sonya Sadhwani, Group Director of Brand Management presenting the cheque to Enimil Ashon, while Godwin Avenorgbo looks on
Melcom Care Foundation, a philanthropic arm of Melcom Group of Companies, has presented a monetary package to support the efforts of the Centre for Communication & Culture in promoting Ethical and Developmental Journalism.
The centre, headed by Enimil Ashon, is organising an event to honour 13 veteran journalists who have played diverse roles in promoting good journalistic practice in the country.
Veterans to be honoured include Kofi Badu, Mr. Cameron Duodu, Madam Elizabeth Ohene, Kweku Sekyi Addo, Kweku Baako, Kwesi Pratt, Godwin Avenorgbo, Professor Kwami Karikari, Mr. Akoto Ampaw, and Adjoa Yeboah Afari.
At a presentation ceremony held at the Achimota branch of Melcom, Godwin Avenorgbo, Group Director of Communications, Melcom Group of Companies, in an address said versatile journalists operating within a strong, resolute, objective and fair media landscape is what Ghana needs at this critical time in our development process.
He said the country needs journalists who are not influenced by monetary, material and personal gain or profit; but motivated to dig deeply in search of the truth and project same in an objective and fair manner.
“Melcom Group of Companies believes strongly that business and industry can grow bigger and better when the media leads the campaign to grow, consume and experience what is Ghana and our own.
“The Ghanaian media has the men and women. You have the capability to lead the national interest by becoming the reliable voice of the voiceless in an all-inclusive approach to courageous and well-defined and informed journalism which takes the side of truth by holding the 1st, 2nd and 3rd arms of our governance machinery accountable to the people for the benefit of the people and the national interest,” he added.
Enimil Ashon, Executive Director of Centre for Communication and Culture, who received a cheque of an undisclosed amount, said discerning Ghanaians have been complaining about the negative effects of media pluralism.
“They have been complaining about the quality of the language in both print and electronic media and the worse culprit is social media,” he stated, adding that the present generation should learn from our veterans and pass it on to the next generation.
“The honour is in three folds; one is series of television interviews which is currently ongoing, the second is dinners where their awards will be given out to them, and finally publish a book about the life and works of these legends.”
By Linda Tenyah-Ayettey