Oliver Barker Vormawor, social activist and convener of the Fix the Country Movement, has expressed his surprise that the issue of Vice President Bawumia’s payment to journalists is not being treated as the major scandal it deserves to be.
Vormawor, baffled by the public’s tepid response, called for greater scrutiny and attention to be focused on this issue.
“In a country where trust in critical institutions is at an all-time low, our lack of attentiveness to the increasing monetization and political control of our media and journalist space requires serious conversation”.
Oliver Barker Vormawor
Vormawor emphasized that the practice of giving “Soli” (stipends) to journalists is a serious issue that undermines the principles of democracy and should not be taken lightly.
He maintained that by accepting such payments, journalists compromise their integrity and become mere opportunists, masquerading as ethical professionals.
The Social Activist asserted that media houses cannot remain detached from the issue, as their journalists receiving subsidies from political and corporate interests compromises their independence.
He clarified that these payments are not merely a salary top-up, but rather a form of influence that undermines the integrity of journalism.
Vormawor stressed that a thorough and unflinching examination of this issue is necessary to expose its corrosive effects on society, particularly the culture of silence and deliberate silencing it fosters.
He stated that through this dialogue, the public can confront the profound impact of this problem on the erosion of free expression and the silencing of critical voices.
Barker Vormawor expressed little surprise that the Vice President’s aide was attempting to influence media coverage by instructing journalists on how to spin the VP’s statements, citing it as a stark example of the pervasive manipulation of the press.
He alleged that the media was given directives to spin the Vice President’s embarrassing remarks by adding a laughter spin to them, downplaying their seriousness, and making them appear humorous.
Money Talks In Ghana’s Politics
Furthermore, Oliver Barker Vormawor pointed out that in Ghana’s political landscape, everything is monetized, implying that financial gain is often the primary motivator.
He emphasized that this creates an environment where anyone can be influenced or bought if they are willing to compromise their values and principles.
“Media houses need a policy on transparency and disclosures. If they can’t afford to cover transport for their journalists, I would rather media houses directly deal with the candidates and organizations and say this is how much we charge to offer coverage even at pressers”.
“Out of that amount charged, the media house can send their journalists and cover their transport and inconvenience allowances or per diems. It comes directly from a media house”.
Oliver Barker Vormawor
Vormawor bemoaned the fact that Ghanaians have a tendency to trivialize and laugh off matters that would be met with outrage and condemnation in other democratic countries, highlighting a worrying lack of accountability.
“Other journalists are only crying over missing out themselves on the money”. – Oliver Barker Vormawor
Vormawor cautioned that while it’s true journalists are often underpaid, using this as a justification for accepting “soli” payments is misguided and overlooks the need for a robust ethical framework.
The social activist noted that such a framework must address both the issue of fair compensation for journalists and the inherent immorality of accepting bribes, which undermines the integrity of their work.
He posited that two seemingly opposing realities can hold true concurrently, emphasizing the complexity of the issue.
Vormawor wondered how journalists can credibly criticize delegates for their wrongdoing when they themselves are accepting large sums of money, such as 10,000 cedis, which raises questions about their own moral standing.
He declared that this is “Ghana’s day of shame“, stressing the notorious and disgraceful nature of the events.
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