In Ghana, George Sarpong wants media subsidies tied to coverage
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on MyJoyOnline
George Sarpong, executive secretary of the National Media Commission, proposes tying Media Development Fund grants to newsrooms' actual coverage, particularly of maternal health. He calls for reviving the CMI index to measure this coverage, following President Mahama’s announcement of 10 million cedis, according to MyJoyOnline.
George Sarpong, executive secretary of Ghana’s National Media Commission (NMC), wants media funding to depend on proof of their actual coverage of certain subjects, according to MyJoyOnline. He proposes reviving a tracking system, the CMI (Credibility Measurement Index), already used by the commission to measure coverage of subjects such as child welfare, agriculture and health. His proposal follows President John Mahama’s announcement of GH¢10 million in seed funding for the Media Development Fund.
Sarpong wants beneficiary organisations to have their own accountability mechanisms and aid awards to rest on transparent rules. He cites maternal health as an example: a newsroom seeking support to improve its coverage should be able to present a track record that fund managers can assess.
On governance, he warns against creating a heavy bureaucracy: “We must decide whether we want to create a bureaucracy around this fund. That will not be my best suggestion.” He instead proposes a small committee, accountable to the profession through its players, whose members understand fund management, the media sector and its needs, and who are able to mobilise additional funding.
