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Develop a national broadcasting policy- Berifi Apenteng
Tamale, Oct. 17, Ghanadot/GNA - Mr.
Berifi Apenteng, a Media Consultant, has called for the
development of a clearly stated policy on broadcasting and a
known criteria for authorizing establishment of radio and
television stations in the country.
He said the media environment was haphazard with about 40
per cent of radio stations located in Accra, Kumasi and
Takoradi and all the five television stations are in Accra.
Mr. Apenteng said this at a public forum on "Public service
broadcasting in Ghana- The way forward" in Tamale on
Tuesday.
The forum was a collaboration of the Ghana Journalist
Association, the Fredrick Ebert Foundation and the KAB
Governance Consult.
Mr. Apenteng said there was a weak legal framework provided
under the constitution regulating the media environment and
that there was the need to flesh out the framework with a
comprehensive law on broadcasting.
He said for instance the National Communications Authority (NCA)
Act was only on authorization and lacked detailed rules and
this had led to lack of transparency and perceived
arbitrariness in the work of the NCA.
Mr Appenteng said the National Media Commission (NMC)
guidelines were unenforceable and it had no power to enforce
them while the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation law NLCD 226
(1968) was obsolete in the current media environment.
Mr. Apenteng said the development of a comprehensive
broadcasting policy and rules would empower both the
broadcaster and the regulator.
He said public service broadcasting was still a critical
aspect of broadcasting all over the world and as such Ghana
was no exception, saying, " Public service broadcasting is
crucial for Ghana's development and national unity".
Mr. Apenteng said there was a need for GBC to continue with
its advertising and sponsorship programmes to make it less
reliant on government subvention.
He also suggested levying of a special one-time tax on newly
imported television and radio sets as well as imposing some
tax on electricity and mobile phone companies to fund GBC.
Mr. Bright Blewu, General Secretary of the GJA, said the
need for a truly independent public service broadcaster in
Ghana should be a concern for all lovers of democracy and
urged the public to continue with the debate on the issue
and offer their ideas on suggestions on "the way forward".
He said it was the wish of the GJA hoped that GBC was
transformed into a true public service broadcaster to serve
the interest of all Ghanaians.
He said the motive for advocating for a public service
broadcasting station was not to discourage the establishment
of private FM stations but rather to create a congenial
environment for the two systems to complement one another to
enhance better quality service for the public.
Mr. Blewu warned people who go around impersonating as
journalists and extorting from event organisers and the
unsuspecting public to desist from the practice or have
themselves to blame when caught.
He appealed to event organisers to always insist on getting
the identity of reporters and the media houses they
represent when they come to cover events.
Mr. Alidu Baba, Northern Regional President of the GJA, said
a vibrant broadcasting medium was essential for making the
voice of the powerless and the deprived to be heard and also
for serving as an avenue for both the governing and the
governed to make their opinions known.
He said public service broadcasting should serve as a
cornerstone for democracy devoid of political and economic
pressures.
GNA
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