Komla Dumor centre for broadcast journalism inaugurated

The Deputy Minister in charge of Tertiary Education, Mr Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, has urged the media to take advantage of the press freedom in the country to shape its development.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Komla Afeke Dumor Centre for Broadcast Journalism in Accra last Saturday, Mr Ablakwa stressed that the independence and freedom of the media was guaranteed by the 1992 Constitution.

The centre, which is located on the premises of the African University College of Communications (AUCC), is in memory of Komla Afeke Dumor, the ace broadcaster who died in London in January 2014.

Mr Ablakwa said with Ghana being ranked 22nd out of 180 countries on the 2015 World Press Freedom Index, journalists should report on issues of national interest that would aid the development of the country.

The index was compiled by Paris-based Reporters Without Borders.

Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa further urged journalists and upcoming ones to use the centre to pursue excellence and expand the frontiers of journalism that would bring advancement and development to the people.

“We want to encourage the media in the country to push the boundaries and have good work ethics so that upcoming and aspiring journalists can emulate,” he said.

 Mr Ablakwa gave a hint that the Ministry of Education was planning to grant scholarships from the Ghana Education Trust Fund to students who sought to study at the centre.

Komla’s Legacy.

For his part, the Founder of the AUCC, Mr Kojo Yankah, said Komla Dumor was a Pan-Africanist whose world view extended far beyond Ghana.

He explained that the AUCC’s decision to set up the centre was influenced by the unique elements, features and characteristics that made Komla Dumor stand out as an icon.

“Komla was an embodiment of hard work, good manners, fortitude, courage, dedication, determination, scholarship, sincerity, and excellence; above all he had the humility to learn,” Mr Yankah stressed.

He promised that the centre would produce journalists who would contribute to Ghana’s press freedom and learn from Komla’s work ethics.

In his goodwill message, the Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), Mr Ken Ashigbey, described the ace broadcaster’s legacy as one that would survive the test of time.

He said Dumor’s broadcasting skills endeared him to his viewers and listeners and always left them enriched with information.

 The Dean of School of Communications, AUCC, Prof. Isaac Abeku Blankson, said the AUCC would offer short courses in Broadcast Journalism and organise an annual Komla Dumor Memorial Lecture on the performance of the media in Africa.

The centre was inaugurated by the President of the AUCC, Dr G. Koryoe Anim-Wright, and a former presenter of the BBC World News and colleague of Mr Komla Dumor, Nik Gowing.