Media Development Fund And The Laptops Controversy

At the just ended media encounter with some senior journalists a week ago, precisely on Tuesday January 7 this year, a journalist asked the president pertinent questions about the Media Development Fund, and I was truly glad that he did ask those questions because as far as I am concerned, the questions bordered much on institutional management failure and perceived corruption. This phenomenon seems common with State Institutions and it serves as breeding ground for corrupt practices or mismanagement of the taxpayer’s money.

This reminds me of a statement President John Mahama made when he was answering one of the many question bordering corruption that day. He said, “A lot of corruption occurs because of systems weaknesses and institutional failures. We can’t allow people to indulge in corruption and then we spend the taxpayer’s money to go after them and prosecute them.” Beautiful observation by the president! Isn't it? But was he being honest in his observation, or it was just one of the rhetorics politicians often make?

Dear reader, let me refresh your mind about the Media Development Fund before i disclose those pertinent questions that were asked by the said journalist. It will be recalled that in 2011, the government announced the establishment of a MDF with the aim to advance Ghana’s media development. The Government also told us that one million Ghana cedis had been made available as seed money to enable the MDF meet its objective. With all intent and purposes, I sincerely believe that it was a laudable agenda since the media role in national development cannot be downplayed. But, was the implementation of that laudable idea well thought out and executed? No! Why? Because of the controversy surrounding the disbursement of the funds allocated to the MDF.

Let’s look at the facts and controversy surrounding the MDF and the role of the Ministry of Information. First of all, it’s a fact that stakeholders, led by the National Media Commission (NMC) and the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), wants a neutral body to disburse the MDF fund. The simple question one may ask is, why? Is it that they don’t trust the Ministry of Information and the sector Minister for handling the activities of the MDF?

It will be recalled that last year the Minister for Information and Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Hon. Mahama Ayariga stated in Parliament that his Ministry used the said money to purchase laptops for journalists after consulting key media stakeholder groups. Namely, the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA), the Private Newspapers Publishers Association of Ghana (PRNPAG), and the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA). Interestingly however, GIBA denied ever receiving any money or laptops from the Ministry of Information. Is this normal? Did Hon. Mahama Ayariga lie to Parliament, or misinformed Ghanaians? Well, i guess only the Government can tell is why all this unacceptable practices are allowed to happen.

However, the GJA on the other hand acknowledged receiving 140 laptops. So, what readily comes to mind is, how many laptops were bought? For how much? Who should be the beneficiaries, and who were the beneficiaries aside the GJA? No wonder that this controversy prompted the MFWA to advocate for transparency and accountability in the disbursement of the fund. Is that not a laudable call which we must all add our voices? Precisely, that is what i believe i am doing through this article and i encourage you also to add your voice in demanding answers. It's our money that is being handled that way - we the taxpayers. I dare say that, like many such corrupt intended political mushroom programs, clearly something went wrong about the disbursement of the said one million Ghana cedis. Corruption?

Now, let me highlight the questions asked by the said journalist regarding the Media Development Fund. (1) Mr. President, has the Media Development Fund an Administrator? (2) How much money has been disbursed so far and, (3) Who are the beneficiaries? Those were the questions asked. But one maybe curious to know why those questions were ask. Well, like GYEEDA etc, those questions were asked because of controversy surrounding the disbursement of monies allocated to the Media Development Fund (MDF). Institutional failure? Corruption? Only the Government can answer those questions.

What was the president’s answer to the pertinent questions asked by the journalist as highlighted in paragraph two of this article? As was evident that day in most of his answers to questions, the president did not tactfully dodge the question, he wasn’t candid when he claimed that he wasn’t privy to the challenges or controversy surrounding the disbursement of monies allocated for the activities of the MDF. He however stated that he will let the minister for information Hon. Mahama Ayariga brief him. Isn’t that unacceptable? Is the president really serious?

In the first place the president did not answer the questions as far as I know and the controversy surrounding the disbursement of the one million Ghana cedis isn’t something the president should have pretended not to know about. But come to think of it, is it not odd that three (3) years after the establishment of the MDF there is no an Administrator to manage the activities of the MDF? Why must such a fund be manage by the minister for information?

Having said that and in addition to the questions asked by the journalist, one may also ask the following questions. (1) Should the role of the Ministry of Information regarding the disbursement of the money allocated for the MDF be probed? (2) Should the minister for information be held accountable for the controversy surrounding the disbursement of the fund? (3) Was there transparency in the disbursement of the fund? (4) Is the president really on top of affairs as a leader the nation? Could the president himself be a problem in fighting perceived or real corrupt practices and scandals in his government? Many questions than answers?

Iddi Wuni, Jnr

iddiwuni@yahoo.com