‘Enforce copyright laws on photography’
He said it was time for the Copyright Office, to bring all stakeholders together to seek a lasting solution to their problem.
Mr Andoh was speaking at a workshop in Accra on Saturday to mark World Photo Day celebration 2022, on the theme “Photojournalism beyond social media, harnessing the potentials of the new media”.
According to Mr Andoh, in as much as the industry faced some challenges, it was important for photojournalists to upgrade themselves in the new media space.
“Now our work has become difficult, we are competing with many others because of the power of technology like the mobile phones and this is why a photojournalist must upgrade themselves to be more relevant in the space,” he said.
He added that “currently most photojournalists are unemployed because now everyone can take pictures and edit it themselves using just a phone”.
MrAndoh, however, encouraged all photojournalists to attend workshop programmes in order to enhance their skills and still stay in business.
“We are calling on the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and other stakeholders to appreciate and support the industry,” he appealed.
Speaking on capacity building for photojournalists, President of GJA, Mr Albert Dwumfour pledged the GJA’s support to GPnet to achieve its goals.
“It is time for photojournalists to position themselves and embrace the potential of the new media space in order to be vibrant and more responsible in their industry,” he said.
Mr Dwumfour further promised to provide some equipment to GPnet toenhance the skills of photojournalists and again organise intense capacity building programmes for them.
Laying more emphasises on the need for photojournalists to do their best, the General Secretary of GPnet, MrGodfredBlay, advised photojournalists against the habit of just taking pictures, but an impact in the country and become problem solvers through their lens.
World Photography Day is observed annually on August 19, in remembrance of the invention of the Daguerreotype, a photographic process developed by Frenchmen Louis Daguerre and Joseph NicephoreNiepce on August 19, 1837.
The day is to create awareness about issues concerning our communities while encouraging all photographers to do their best in the industry.
BY ANITA ANKRAH