WAY FORWARD “People also thought that the Multimedia Group would become the next organising group, but they saw themselves as an elite group that didn’t need to unionise, so the idea of unionising gradually fizzled out.” It is understood that at Multimedia, the staff were eager to form a union, but management was not keen. Journalists working in state-owned media houses are also members of national unions. The unions are considered to be effective when it comes to pay-related issues, “but there are challenges about who is representing who.” It was stated by one panellist that a union specifically for journalists is not necessarily required. “We do not have to have a National Union of Journalists in order for the national interests of journalists to be taken up,” as unions such as the Trades Union Congress (TUC) have media practitioners as members, and can address many of their concerns. Panellists noted that the polarisation of the media is partly responsible for the divides that exist with respect to unionisation. Many media owners have also blocked efforts to form internal unions that would have a more powerful, unified voice, “because they don’t want a situation where employees come together as unions and push on salaries.” Other associations that exist include: GIBA, which is an association of owners/ proprietors in broadcasting, an association of publishers of private newspapers, the Editors Forum, Ghana, (EFG), which is also seen as “a CSO [civil society organisation] enclave for media debate on media policy”, and Women in Broadcasting, which also conducts training programmes each year. The Association of Women in the Media (ASWIM), “has been quiet for a while.” Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 2.0 (2006:4.7; 2008:4.0; 2011:3.5; 2013:2.3) AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER GHANA 2017 65