Some twenty retired journalist have been given a comprehensive health insurance package by the Western Region branch of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA).
This forms part of the maiden regional GJA Media Awards. The headline sponsor of the Awards, scheduled for November 9, 2019, Goldfields Ghana Limited, has presented a package worth ¢68,000.00 to the association in Takoradi.
This is to enable the retired journalists to access quality healthcare at no cost to them.
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Mr M. Dotsey Koblah Aklorbortu the Western Regional Chairman of the Association, explaining the reason for this initiative said the plight of most retired journalists was nothing to write home about due to the poor service conditions under which most of them worked.
He described the situation as unacceptable saying “those who brought us the sizzling stories and, captivating photographs, left office with nothing and even unnoticed, this is not acceptable and it's about time we changed the narration.â€
The medical insurance is, therefore, to reduce their burden in paying for quality healthcare, which most are unable to afford. "The era where retired journalists leave and die in squalor and die destitute is over. The time has come for journalists to take care of their own", he added.
He said the GJA in the region was going to focus on the welfare of journalists while on the job and when they go on retirement. “It is sad that most employers don’t pay their journalists commensurate salary for their work. They crisscross the country in service of the nation but when they retire the story is different.â€
He applauded Goldfields Ghana for supporting “a worthy causeâ€, saying the company has demonstrated that it is a responsible corporate citizen.
Goldfields’s Executive Vice President-in-charge of Human Resource West Africa, Francis Eduku, said it was gratifying that the Association will think of supporting its own especially retired journalists, stressing that “Goldfields will always support and be proud of any initiative that will put a smile on an otherwise sad faceâ€.