Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), has voiced disappointment with President John Mahama’s response to journalists’ salary concerns during a recent media engagement.
Mr. Dwumfour said poor remuneration remains one of the most pressing challenges facing the profession in Ghana, despite the country’s vibrant and relatively free media landscape.
“Our position on the World Press Freedom Index isn’t just about physical attacks on journalists—it’s also tied to economic factors,” Albert Kwabena Dwumfour lamented. “Journalists’ pay is discouraging. Some media houses even rely on volunteers to avoid paying salaries, which hurts professionalism and standards.”
He painted a particularly worrying picture of state-owned media, where conditions are even tougher. “We know salaries aren’t great everywhere, but in state media, it’s outright unfair—it’s like theft,” he said bluntly.
Dwumfour warned that without urgent reforms, including tax relief and better wages, the future of state media and the credibility of journalism in Ghana could be at risk.
“The media plays a vital role in national development. We fight for others, but we don’t fight for ourselves. If we don’t strengthen state media, it will collapse. The situation is dire,” he warned.
