The President of the Private Newspaper and Online Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG), David Tamakloe, has called on journalists to repay the sacrifices of PRINPAG founders by building a future worthy of their sacrifices.
According to David Tamakloe, the pioneers who founded PRINPAG did so in difficult times, hence a debt is owed to them by journalists.
Delivering a speech at the swearing-in of New PRINPAG Executives on September 4, he said the men and women who founded PRINPAG such as Gilbert Banquo Kwame Owusu, Kwame Obeng Fosu, Kwaku Adjemang Duah, Kenteman Nii Laryea Sowah and Osbert Lartey, did so in difficult times.
“They fought for freedom of expression when censorship was real, they championed press pluralism when it was dangerous, and they defended truth when it was costly. We owe them a debt. And the best way to repay them is not by celebrating the past but by building a future worthy of their sacrifices,” he said.
David Tamakloe went on to outline ways by which PRINPAG will ensure such a reform under his leadership.
- Empowerment – Skills and Mentorship
David Tamakloe stated that although the world is changing, the need for skill remains, hence PRINPAG must continue to empower its member journalists.
He stated, “Training will no longer be an occasional event; it must become part of our culture. We will build strong mentorship programs where seasoned journalists pass on their wisdom to the next generation.”
He empasised that “Empowered journalists produce empowered societies.”
- Advertisement Growth – Fair Deals, Bigger Opportunities
David Tamakloe said many members of PRINPAG struggle to sustain their work financially as advertising opportunities are captured by just a few newspapers.
He said that under his administration, he will fight for fairness for all members.
“We will engage advertisers, corporate Ghana, and state institutions to ensure equitable distribution of advertisement opportunities. We will advocate for policies that recognize the role of private media in shaping our democracy and, therefore, deserve their fair share of financial support.”
Adding, “We will position PRINPAG members as partners of choice for advertisers, not as beggars at the table.”
- Visibility – Showcasing Every Member’s Work
David Tamakloe also talked about another problem facing PRINPAG members which is the issue of their works not being seen and members being unnoticed and unrecognised.
He stressed on the fact that all members deserve an opportunity to be heard or noticed.
The president of PRINPAG assured members that, “We will invest in platforms and strategies that bring visibility to our members. We will leverage digital tools to amplify print journalism, ensuring that our stories do not die on the pages of newspapers but live in the digital space where millions can access them.”
- Integrity – Raising the Bar on Ethics
Finally, Mr. Tamakloe touched on the issue of improper ethical behaviours among journalists.
He urged them to do away with taking bribes or ‘soli’ and raise the bar on professionalism to maintain the public’s trust in journalists.
“We’re talking about chicken change that wouldn’t buy a decent lunch, yet somehow we’ve allowed it to define our entire profession’s reputation,” he said.
David Tamakloe added, “As President, I will work with this executive team to establish stronger ethical guidelines, to enforce accountability, and to celebrate members who exemplify the highest standards of journalism.”
David Tamakloe further urged journalists to be committed to building this vision of a better future of PRINPAG.
“Colleagues, these four pillars, empowerment, advertisement growth, visibility, and integrity are not isolated ideas. They form one vision: a stronger, fairer, and more respected PRINPAG,” he stressed.
“This is our shared responsibility. If we unite behind these values, there is nothing we cannot achieve,” David Tamakloe concluded.
