Dr. Mahama Seth Shaibu Calls for Forensic Audit into Northern Region GJA Awards 2024
Dr. Mahama Seth Shaibu, the head of the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at the University for Development Studies, has called for a forensic audit into the sponsorship of the 2024 Northern Region Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards. Speaking during an interview on Zaa TV’s News Point program, Dr. Shaibu expressed concern over what he described as a lack of transparency and possible mismanagement of funds designated for the event.
According to Dr. Shaibu, there are suspicions that sponsorship money and other items meant for the awards may not have been properly accounted for, leading to concerns about fund mismanagement.
“There is an urgent need for transparency in the way sponsorships are handled. The stakeholders deserve to know how the funds were used,” he stressed. He called for a forensic audit to ensure accountability and restore trust in the process.
In addition to his call for an audit, Dr. Shaibu urged the Northern Region GJA to establish a board of trustees to oversee the GHC 500,000 scholarship fund pledged to journalists. This scholarship, known as the “Anta-GJA Scholarship for Journalists in the Northern Region,” was announced by Finance Minister and Member of Parliament for Karaga, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, during the awards ceremony in Tamale. The fund aims to support the continued education of journalists in the region, many of whom face financial constraints due to low pay.
Dr. Shaibu commended Dr. Amin Adam’s initiative, but emphasized that proper management of the scholarship fund is crucial to ensure its effectiveness. He believes that the formation of a board of trustees would provide an extra layer of oversight and safeguard the fund’s intended purpose.
During the awards ceremony, Dr. Amin Adam also stressed the importance of media owners improving wages for journalists, noting that better compensation would help reduce journalists’ reliance on politicians for financial support. He urged the media to maintain high professional standards, especially in the lead-up to the 2024 general elections, and to use their platforms responsibly to foster peace.
Dr. Shaibu echoed these sentiments, advocating for more support for journalists and reforms in the media industry that would enable practitioners to work independently and uphold the integrity of their profession.
Story by Ibrahim Angaangmeni Alhassan/zaaradio.com
