Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has called for the media to be elevated to the same level as the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary, arguing that Ghana’s democracy can only be strengthened when journalism is recognised as an equal pillar of governance.
The traditional three-arm structure of government, he said, is not sufficiently balanced without a strong and independent media capable of holding public officials accountable and protecting the public interest.
Mr Bagbin made the remarks when the President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, led a delegation to pay a courtesy call on him and invite him to the association’s 30th Media Awards scheduled for November 7.
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According to the Speaker, the media plays a critical role in ensuring transparency, promoting accountability and exposing wrongdoing within the governance system.
He disclosed that one of his submissions to the United Nations, where he had served as a technical consultant, advocated a shift from the traditional three-pillar model to a four-pillar structure that gives the media equal recognition alongside the three arms of government.
Mr Bagbin argued that the traditional tripod model does not adequately reflect the balance needed in democratic governance, particularly because the Executive often wields considerable power compared with the other institutions.
“The tripod is not well balanced. It’s not well stable. And so you see that the executive is always a bit big, and the others are not as strong as the executive,” he said.
He maintained that elevating the media to the same level as the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary would help create a more balanced system of governance.
“And so we should up the fourth estate to the level of the executive, the judiciary, and the legislature. So that the pot can be properly balanced, the pot of governance,” he added.
The Speaker described journalism as an essential component of democratic governance, stressing that the media helps create public awareness, scrutinise the exercise of political power and ensure that leaders remain accountable to the people.
He urged journalists to continue educating Ghanaians about their profession and its importance to national development, stressing that public understanding of journalism could help reduce hostility towards media practitioners.
Mr Bagbin also criticised attacks on journalists, arguing that media professionals should not be targeted for performing their duties.
He said journalism has played a significant role in shaping his own political career and acknowledged the contribution of media practitioners to public discourse and political development in Ghana.
According to him, politicians who understand the influence of the media are better positioned to communicate their ideas and connect with the electorate.
He warned, however, that the growing influence of technology and citizen journalism has made it increasingly difficult to maintain professional standards, placing additional responsibilities on the GJA to promote ethical conduct and professionalism.
Mr Bagbin expressed Parliament’s willingness to support legislative measures aimed at establishing basic conditions of service for journalists.
He argued that journalists should be able to earn a decent living without depending on the same individuals and institutions they are expected to scrutinise.
According to him, the financial challenges confronting media organisations threaten the independence of journalism, describing media products as critical public goods rather than merely private commercial ventures.
He drew parallels between the challenges facing journalists and those confronting parliamentary committees, which sometimes lack adequate funding to undertake oversight activities and may have to depend on the institutions they are expected to supervise.
The Speaker stressed that a fairer allocation of national resources is necessary to strengthen the institutions responsible for accountability and democratic governance.
He assured the GJA delegation of Parliament’s support for its 30th Media Awards, urging members to use the occasion to promote professional journalism and strengthen public confidence in the media.
The GJA will mark its 30th Media Awards on November 7, with the celebration expected to highlight the association’s contribution to journalism and Ghana’s democratic development.