By Adjei Dickens Ofori Asare
Prof. Kwamena Kwansah-Aidoo, Chairman of the Working Committee and Vice Chancellor of the University of Media, Arts, and Communication (UniMAC), at the opening of the 2023 Media Capacity Enhancement Programme (MCEP), commended information Minister, Oppong Nkrumah for his leadership.
“I want to express heartfelt gratitude to the Honourable Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, for his leadership in initiating and spearheading the Media Capacity Enhancement Programme.”
“It gives me immeasurable pleasure to welcome you all here this morning, in my dual capacity as Vice Chancellor of UniMAC and Chairman of the Working Committee of the Media Capacity Enhancement Programme.”
Reflecting on the program’s history, he acknowledged that , “A little over 23 months ago, when we launched the maiden training session under the Media Capacity Enhancement Programme in Kumasi, we all had very high hopes that within two years we would have run several of these training workshops.”
Addressing the critical role of the media, Prof. Kwansah-Aidoo said, “The field of journalism has never been more vital, and the challenges it faces have never been more complex.” He pointed out concerns about ethical lapses in the Ghanaian media and violations against journalists, stating, “The media must foster an engaged and informed citizenry, encouraging active participation in the democratic process.”
Discussing the evolving media landscape, he highlighted, “With the ever-evolving landscape of technology, the media face unprecedented challenges and opportunities.” Prof. Kwansah-Aidoo stressed the need for media players to be well-equipped to navigate the digital frontier.
He encouraged participants to ensure that they are equipped to ignite a passion for transformative storytelling, adding that he envisions that the workshop will be “a crucible for change” in the narrative of professionalism within the media ecosystem.