The Bank of Ghana (BoG), in collaboration with the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), organized a landmark media engagement workshop on Non-Interest Banking and Finance (NIBF) . Apexnewsgh reports The initiative held in Koforidua from July 18 to 20, 2025, aimed at enhancing media understanding of NIBF as a tool for ethical, inclusive, and sustainable financial development in Ghana. Speaking on behalf of the Governor, Dr. Johnson P. Asiama, the Director of Banking Supervision Department, Mr. Ismail Adam, reiterated the Bank’s commitment to creating a robust legal and institutional framework for implementing non-interest banking. “This workshop is part of BoG’s broader stakeholder engagement strategy to equip the media to lead public education efforts,” Mr. Adam said. Non-Interest Banking, also known as Islamic or Participatory Banking, operates on profit-and-loss sharing principles and prohibits interest-based or unethical transactions such as gambling and speculative investments. It is open to all Ghanaians, regardless of religion, and complements conventional banking. With global NIBF assets surpassing USD 5 trillion in 2024, Mr. Adam stressed its growing influence in both Muslim and secular economies. He noted that NIBF supports key goals of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly reducing inequality, promoting decent work, and financing infrastructure projects through ethical means. Participants, including media practitioners, were sensitized on the fundamentals of Islamic finance, its role in financial inclusion, risk-sharing, and sustainable development. They were also urged to demystify misconceptions such as that Islamic banking is solely religious or a threat to conventional banking and instead promote its benefits for SMEs, trade, and Ghana’s 24-hour economy. Special commendation was given to Prof. John Gartchie Gatsi, Advisor to the Governor on NIBF, for his leadership in spearheading the initiative. The BoG emphasized its inclusive approach—bringing on board Christians and Muslims alike—to build a financial system that is representative, equitable, and supportive of Ghana’s economic aspirations. A national policy on NIBF is currently being developed. The workshop forms part of BoG’s multi-phase stakeholder engagement strategy targeting professional bodies, academia, regulators, and the media. The overarching goal is to integrate NIBF into Ghana’s mainstream financial ecosystem, increase foreign direct investment, and enhance socio-economic development. Journalists lauded the initiative as timely, strategic, and vital for public financial literacy. Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen
Ghana Journalists Association Elections: 62 Aspirants Cleared to Contest Various Positions
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has cleared 62 aspirants to contest for various national and regional positions in the upcoming elections scheduled for June 30, 2024. The vetting committee thoroughly reviewed petitions against some aspirants before approving the candidates. President: Current President Albert Kwabena Dwumfour faces stiff competition from Charles Yao Mawusi, a media trainer and consultant. General Secretary: Dominic Hlordzi, the current Organising Secretary, is vying for the position against Akwasi Agyeman, who previously lost to Hlordzi. Agyeman currently works with Adom FM under the Multimedia Group. Public Relations Officer (PRO): Rebecca Ekpe, the current PRO, is up against Mary Tawiah Mensah, the Foreign Editor of the Daily Graphic and former PRO of the GJA. Organising Secretary: Maxwell Kudekor, former Eastern Regional Chairman, is competing against Suleiman Mustapha, Acting Editor of Graphic Business. Treasurer: Bertha Badu-Agyei from the Ghana News Agency faces Theodora Amedetor from the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC). Ashanti Region: Kofi Adu Domfeh and Georgina Ama Ankomah are contesting for the Chairperson position. Central Region: Kingsley Nana Buadu and David Yarboi-Tetteh are vying for the Chairperson role. Eastern Region: Yvonne Neequaye and Neil Nii Armatey Kanarku are facing off for Chairperson, while Isaac Akwetey Okunor and Gloria Afful are contesting for the Secretary position. Upper East Region: Albert Sore and Ebo-Bruce Quansah will battle for the Chairperson role. Upper West Region: Prosper Kuorsoh and Seidu Ibrahim Bomanjo are competing for the Chairperson position. Volta Region: Emmanuel Agbaxode and Kofi Belley Harrison are vying for the Chairperson role, while Ewoenam Kpodo and King Freeman Nutsukpoe are contesting for Treasurer. Balloting for the elections is set for Friday, June 13, 2025, at the Ghana International Press Centre, which serves as the national secretariat. Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen
MFWA Throws Weight on GJA Following Media Blackout on Minister Mavis Hawa Koomson
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has fully endorsed and supported the decision of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to impose a total media blackout on Mavis Hawa Koomson, the Minister of State for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, and to stay away from her in any public capacity. This decision comes as a response to the increasing number of crimes against journalists and the lack of action by the state to address these crimes. The MFWA believes that it is crucial for the media community to take drastic measures to protect the rights and safety of journalists, considering the growing impunity for crimes against journalists. Therefore, they commend the GJA for their bold decision and appeal to all media houses and journalists in the country to adhere to it. The MFWA also suggests that the media boycott should extend to all activities of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development as long as Mavis Hawa Koomson remains in office. The decision of the GJA was prompted by an attack on journalist David Kobbena, who works for Cape FM, allegedly by supporters of Mavis Hawa Koomson. The attack took place on January 4, 2024, and has been strongly condemned by both the GJA and the MFWA. David Kobbena, known as Ohene Kwame David on radio, was covering the vetting of aspiring members of parliament for the ruling New Patriotic Party when he was assaulted. According to Kobbena, he was sitting under a summer hut at the premises when two ladies approached him and accused him of insulting Hawa Koomson during a panel discussion on UTV. Despite his denial and providing evidence, a gentleman also accused him of the same. Soon after, he was attacked by around fifteen thugs who beat him. Fellow journalists intervened and rescued Kobbena. Mavis Hawa Koomson herself arrived at the scene but left without saying a word after being briefed by the assailants. Kobbena reported the incident to the NPP executives conducting the vetting and to the Kotokoraba Police Station, where he received a medical form to seek treatment at a hospital. The MFWA is deeply concerned about this attack on journalists and calls for immediate action. They urge the New Patriotic Party to demand answers from Hawa Koomson and take steps to identify and punish the attackers. As the assault was allegedly in retaliation for alleged insults against her, the Minister must cooperate with the police to find the culprits and clear her name. In light of the violence and attacks on journalists during the 2020 elections, it is crucial for all political stakeholders to commit to non-violent conduct. All political parties and politicians must act lawfully and publicly denounce any supporters engaging in violent behavior. Source: Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0256336062
Hawa Koomson not comfortable with media blackout, set to engage GJA for reunion.
Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and Member of Parliament for the Awutu Senya East Constituency, Hawa Koomson, has announced her intention to have a discussion with the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) leadership. The aim is to address any misunderstandings and establish a positive relationship between the Ministry and the media. This decision comes after the GJA called for a media blackout on all activities involving the Minister. The blackout was in response to the assault of a journalist from Cape Coast, allegedly by individuals connected to the Minister, during the NPP’s parliamentary aspirants’ vetting in Cape Coast. In a statement from her office, Ms. Koomson expressed her deep concern about the GJA’s decision to blacklist her. She made it clear that she strongly condemns the reported incident. She and her associates deny all accusations leveled against them. The statement acknowledged the significant role of the media in Ghana’s democracy. It emphasized Ms. Koomson’s commitment to creating a safe and secure environment for journalists to carry out their duties. The Minister urged the GJA leadership to reconsider their decision to blacklist her, highlighting the absence of evidence linking her to the assault. She expressed her confidence in the ongoing investigation by the Ghana Police Service to apprehend the alleged attacker. Source: Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0256336062
UER: GJA Chairman lauds UG/MFWA media report, says some of the issues raised as a constitutional lapses
The Upper East Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) William Jalulah has said, he is excited that the Department of Communication Studies, University of Ghana, Legon in partnership with The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has come out with a report that looks into the welfare of their job as journalists in Ghana. A report on the State of Ghanaian Media has been launched by the Department of Communication Studies, University of Ghana, Legon in partnership with The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA). The report has revealed that the media that there is a growing tendency towards media empire-building, Political faces behind broadcast media ownership mean that partisan actors and governments can control public discourse. The NCA has a laissez-faire attitude to questions about transparency in media ownership. Meanwhile, in responding to the reports, Mr. Jalulah expressed some level of satisfaction with the media report. According to him, “Over the years as watchdogs players, we have sunk a lot of energy into seeking better treatment for other professionals, better service conditions for other professionals and even defending the rights of others, which is rightly because that is our job as journalists. But of course, we are human beings, our welfare must matter to us just as other people’s welfare issue concerns us. We must be alive to defend others and we must live in a more dignifying manner to be able to defend others but unfortunately, that has not been the case. As for me, this report should be a report we all must come on board to ensure it assumes a national proportion where discussion on it will be broadened widely to encompass the aspects that relate to media activities in this country”. Mr. Jalulah said, some of the issues raised in the report, he looked at it as some constitutional lapses as far as the media landscape in Ghana is concerned. “If you check in the article that is dedicated to the media freedom of expression, the media is even recognized as the fourth estate of the realm. Now being the fourth estate of the realm, it means after the executive, judiciary, and legislature, the media space is next. But what do we see, we have been relegated to the background, which is only captured in the media but much attention is not given to the media. So people come out to set up media organizations for their own interest and interestingly we have regulatory authorities that are supposed to be monitoring people who set up media organizations but unfortunately, that is not the case”. He stressed He also blames the regulatory authorities for not performing their regulatory duty as captured by law: “If i decide to set up a radio station today and i have the money, what matters is to be able to get the frequency and the equipment. Nobody cares how i recruit my staff, nobody cares how much i pay them, nobody cares how they live, and nobody cares even about their working environment in terms of safety. So, why do we have laws that are supposed to regulate the activities of these people, and yet nobody cares about ensuring that the law works? Below are some of the various media reports WORKING CONDITIONS IN THE GHANAIAN MEDIA ■ Recruitment into the Ghanaian media is generally untransparent. ■ Many people working in the media do not have contracts. ■ There are no established structures for promotion in most media organizations; promotion is largely based on ‘whom you know’ and owners’/managers’ whims. ■ Salaries in the media are woefully low. Some employees work long months without pay. ■ Most media employees have no healthcare support ■ Most media organizations do not provide counseling support for employees who experience trauma in the line of work. MEDIA OWNERSHIP AND REGULATION ■ In Ghana, media pluralism has not necessarily served the public interest, due mainly to the concentration of media in a few hands. ■ Media ownership is shrouded in opacity. ■ There is a growing tendency towards media empire-building. ■ Political faces behind broadcast media ownership mean that partisan actors and governments can control public discourse. ■ The NCA has a laissez-faire attitude to questions about transparency in media ownership. ■ The current regime for broadcast regulation allows considerable power and influence to those whose conduct the media are supposed to check. SAFETY OF JOURNALISTS ■ There is a growing sense of insecurity among journalists in Ghana ■ Violations of journalists’ safety are quite common in Ghana. ■ Male journalists are more at risk of attacks than females. ■ Investigative journalists are the most at risk of attacks ■ State actors, including political appointees and police, are the worst perpetrators of attacks on journalists. ■ Journalists feel that law enforcement agencies and the judiciary do little to protect their safety. ■ Journalists in Ghana have a clear understanding of their position in society and their role as watchdogs of society, and as collaborators in nation-building. ■ However, there seems to be a disconnect between role conception and performance. ■ Factors such as ownership influence, journalistic routines, gatekeeper influences as well as advertiser influences interfere with journalists’ ability to deliver to the demands of their role conceptions. Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email apexnewsgh@gmail.com
UER: Current living standard forced me into commercial tricycle riding– Media Practitioner cries out
A media practitioner in the Upper East Region known as Gayheart Abraham Akelekora has said the current living standard has forced him into riding a commercial tricycle before he will be able to put food on the table. The media practitioner cum tricycle rider admits that Upper East media is really a nice place to be as a media practitioner but insists that the current living standard is challenging. During his engagement with Apexnewsgh.com, Mr. Akelekora gave these accounts; ” I am a journalist, am working with a media house in the Upper East Region here but the sustainability of the living standard currently is making it hard for us to cope with what we are taking as media practitioners or journalists in the region here. So, I have resorted to using my tricycle in order to make my daily earns means. At least after work, I come to do my daily business to sustain myself and my family as a whole”. “It is a lucrative business using the tricycle but the risk involve in it as a media practitioner or journalist is very high, because they hear you on one side of the radio, and on another side, you are on the street Hustling. It isn’t that your qualification is not good but just that you have to cope with the situation and really make things work for your future and that is why I have resorted to using my tricycle as my means of getting income for my family and myself”. He stressed He went further to say “naturally, media work is very stressful but i do everything in my own capacity to make it work for me. Sometimes, I get customers who call me very early and I have to be in my office to do the media work after which I had to reassign them or schedule them”. However, he admits that combining media and commercial tricycle riding is very stressful.He said: “sometimes I had to go to bed around 1am and wake up around 4am to go office and do journalism as a passion. Source : Apexnewsgh.com For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com
Churn-out credible and development oriented information –Stephen Yakubu to GJA Executives
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Stephen Yakubu has called on journalists in the Region to churn-out credible and development-oriented information to help propel development in the Region. He said the citizenry depended on the media for credible information on happenings in the country to enable them make informed decisions. “For this country to move forward and develop, journalists are the ones to let everyone know what information is good or bad and how to put it out there,” he noted. Mr. Yakubu made the call when the newly elected executives of the Regional chapter of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), led by its Chair, Mr. William Jalula called on him to introduce themselves. The Minister called for collaboration and support from the GJA to work as development partners, saying “We need to work together as a region to find solutions to the problems that face us.” He said the problems in the region were self-induced, including the politicisation of every development issue, tribal conflicts, and cited the Bawku, Doba and Kandiga intermittent conflicts that drained the coffers of the respective Assemblies and retarded development. Mr. Yakubu said the Region had enough resources that could be tapped to solve the development needs of the people, and therefore urged the media to rally behind the government to achieve the development agenda of the country. Mr Jalula on his part, urged journalists to be circumspect in their reportage, and avoid taking sides in the course of their work. He appealed to the Regional Minister to pay attention to some road networks, the street and traffic lighting systems which he noted were faulty and did not befit the status of the Regional capital, Bolgatanga. The GJA Chairman proposed that drivers and motorists who knocked down the street and traffic lights should be arrested and made to pay for the damage caused. He appealed to the Minister to practice an open door administration, and encourage the various Municipal and District Chief Executives across the Region to practice same, so that journalists could cross-check their stories before they published. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Training for first set of journalists under MCEP ends in Kumasi
Training for the first set of journalists under the Media Capacity Enhancement Programme (MCEP) has ended. The capacity enhancement programme which is a weeklong intensive media training initiative sponsored by the Ministry of Information trained journalists on emerging issues in journalism enhanced their skills provided a platform to support media introspection on subjects related to media management, corporate governance, and media business models and encouraged ethical journalism. The Chairman of the Working Committee, Professor Kwemena Kwansah-Aidoo in a congratulatory statement issued on Thursday, January 13, 2022, congratulated the 60 journalists who participated in the maiden edition of the programme and challenged them to use the knowledge acquired to impact the country’s media landscape. “The Working Committee of the MCEP congratulates the first cohort of participants for engaging with a keen interest in the weeklong training modules aimed at sharpening their skills. The interest that was generated by your cohort during the training gives us the confidence that the programme is a worthy one. We encourage all participants to put the lessons to use and impact their communities with the ideas generated,” the statement said. The Chairman also expressed his appreciation to organizing partners of the programme namely the National Media Commission (NMC), the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), the Ghana Independence Broadcasters Association (GIBA), the Private Newspaper Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG), the Institute of Public Relations (IPR), the Ministry of Information and Development Partners for the collaboration and support towards the organization of the maiden edition of the programme. He also encouraged all practising journalists who may be interested in benefiting from the programme to apply through the programme’s website (www.mcepghana.com) urging journalists to take advantage of this opportunity to add more value to themselves. —classfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
JUST IN: Bolgatanga Regional Hospital concessional loan facility of $20 million canceled govt looking for new sponsor–Regional Minister
The Upper East Region Minister Stephen Yakubu has revealed, that the signing of a concessional loan facility of $20 million between the governments of Ghana and Saudi Arabia in 2019 for the completion of Bolgatanga Regional Hospital has been truncated. Apexnewsgh.com report The Regional Minister made the revelation on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, during a press soiree organized by the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council (RCC). BACKGROUND In September 2019, the Minister of Information, Mr. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, at a press briefing in Techiman in the Bono East Region disclosed that the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital is expected to be completed in October 2020 following the signing of a concessional loan facility of $20 million between the governments of Ghana and Saudi Arabia. Mr. Oppong Nkrumah also added that the repayment of the loan would start after 10 years of signing, and indicated it would take the government 20 years to defray the loan. He said 49 percent of the loan was a grant from the people of Saudi Arabia. He, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah further pointed that the Minister of Finance, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta, and the Vice Chairman of the Saudi Fund for Development, Mr. Khalid Alkhudairy, signed the agreement in Accra on behalf of their respective governments. However, since after the October 2020 deadline for the completion of the project per the agreement, it appears the people of the Upper East Region are not getting any vital information regarding the concessional loan facility of $20 million between the governments of Ghana and Saudi Arabia. However, addressing journalists at the annual press soiree when the question was the question was asked to the Regional Minister, He said: “Concerning the hospital, i have also been following it, but the Health Minister keeps telling me that the problem is that, the Saudi people are not interested in these logistic anymore. So, that USD 20 million that was secured in 2019, you know monies are secured sometime it takes certain processes and that process somewhere can be truncated and I think, that is what has happened”. “So, my understanding is that the Ministry is trying very hard to get another sponsor so that they can then go through the procurement processes very quickly to get our logistic here so that we can open our hospital. Any time I go to Accra, I find time to go to the Ministry of Health just to fight for this hospital. So hopefully, very soon we will get money to do that. “And sometimes, when we are taxing, when we are bringing in the E-Levy and when we are trying to bring taxes for all of us to contribute….Maybe, if you have our money we should have gone to buy our thing and put it there. But when the government is trying to raise revenue up again and you are saying you cannot do this and that and now we are the same people who are crying for the roads, who are crying for the hospital, who are crying for everything. So, where do we get the money to do all these nice things we all want to enjoy? The Regional Minister concluded Meanwhile, Works are expected to be completed in October 2020, paving the way for the full operation of the hospital for affordable and quality health care to the people in the Upper East Region and beyond, especially towns and communities in and around Bolgatanga. However, somewhere in April 2020, the Deputy Regional Communication Officer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Sunday Casper Kampoli posted this question to the President on his Facebook wall following the then announcement of building 88 hospitals across the country within a period of 8 months. Below was Sunday Casper Kampoli full post: Nana Addo where is the $20million Saudi loan approved for the Phase II of Upper East regional hospital? So Nana Addo was at his Waterloo moment once again. In his 8th Covid 19 address he promised to build 88 district hospitals, 6 Regional Hospitals in the next 8 months, 7 of the district hospitals will be in the Upper East Region. Whilst it is welcoming and good to know that Nana Addo and Bawumia have suddenly woken up from their slumber to appreciate the importance of good health facilities and are trying to take steps to fulfill one of their numerous highfalutin 2016 campaign promises, we must remind them of the state of health care facilities in the Upper East Region and what we need at this point in time to fight Covid 19. Apparently, the erstwhile NDC in its resolve to provide every region with a state of the art Hospital started the expansion of the Upper East Regional Hospital to equip it with state of the art equipment to provide health care for the people of Upper East and its environs. When the expansion works are completed the Hospital will provide Dental, Pharmacy, accident and emergency care, E&T, Eye and Mental health, Public Health and Herbal medicine, Mortuary, Blood bank, X-Ray department, etc. The expansion works was to cost the nation $48 million- 85% to be funded by the Saudi Fund and GOG to fund the 15%. Before the NDC left power in January 2017, 85% of the infrastructural works were completed. Before the NDC led by H.E. John Dramani Mahama: the regime that secured the $12 million for the first phase, left government in January 2017, 85% of the Phase I works were completed. However, after Nana Addo and Bawumia took over the governance of the country they have not prioritize the project up till today. But on the 1st of March 2019, Parliament unanimously approved $20million loan from the Saudi Fund for the second phase of the Upper East Regional Hospital but a year on, the phase II of the expansion works which is the equipping of regional hospital has not started and the whereabouts of the $20million is not known. Is it true that the money has been diverted? If it
Support us to maintain law and order – IGP to journalists
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), COP George Akuffo Dampare, has told the media to partner the Police in ensuring law and order in the country. He said this at engagement with senior editors in Accra on Thursday November 4. In series of tweets after the engagement he said “He, therefore, called on them to use their powerful platforms to partner with the Police in the maintenance of law and order and to collectively confront issues affecting the security of the country.” “He assured the media that the Police Administration is determined to deliver on its constitutional mandate. The Inspector-General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, chaired the meeting and he was supported by members of the Police Management Board.” “Ghana Police Service Meets Editors and Media Partners The Ghana Police Service continued its strategic stakeholder engagements, yesterday, Thursday, November 4, 2021, with a meeting between the Police Administration and editors, media managers and partners” “The President of the Ghana Journalists Association, Mr. Roland Affail Monney, moderated the event. Also in attendance were some other Senior Police Officers from the Greater Accra and the Tema Regional Police Commands.” —3news. Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093









