The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has assured journalists or media practitioners that the GJA is set to engage media owners and managers over the salaries of journalists.
This is to ensure that all journalists are paid what they deserve.
He said this in an interview with Atinka TV on its morning show, Ghana Nie with Ama Gyenfa Ofosu Darkwa while recounting the achievements of the GJA after being in office for a year.
On June 30th, Mr Albert Dwumfour was sworn in by a justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice George Kingsley Koomson to begin his three-year journey as the GJA President.
Prior to his election, one of the key areas the GJA President touched on was the welfare of journalists.
He also observed that journalists were not paid well, therefore had the vision to ensure that journalists get what they deserve.
In addition to that, Mr Dwumfour also sought to ensure the development of media practitioners and the media in general.
Touching on the steps taken so far to achieve the above results, he said the GJA has already secured a certificate to unionise media houses, adding that plans are ahead to also secure a bargaining certificate to take off.
Together with key stakeholders including GIBA, PRINPAG and the Ministry of Information, he said the GJA will engage media owners and managers to discuss the salaries of the journalists.
“We have taken steps. Under the previous administration, we decided to unionize the media organizations. Until you unionise the organisations and obtain bargaining power, you do not have the constitutional authority to negotiate fair wages for your members. As we have obtained the union certificate, it is left with the bargaining certificate, and we are working on it. We are hoping to obtain the bargaining certificate by the end of the year so that all media practitioners can benefit from it,” he noted.
Meanwhile, he assured that what is ahead is greater than what the GJA has done, adding that the Association will organise a first-anniversary forum where the GJA will announce the projects ahead.
He also called on all to support the work of the GJA to execute its mandate.