Mr Berifi Appenteng, a media consultant has called for a review of the law that established Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) to enable it effectively perform the role of public service broadcasting in view of the current radio broadcasting environment in the country.

He noted that the perception that there was no need for GBC with the proliferation of many private radio stations was wrong because despite the establishment of about 124 private radio stations in the country, there were many areas that were covered only by GBC.

Mr Appenteng made the call at a forum on "Public Service Broadcasting in Ghana-The Way Forward" organized by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) in collaboration with Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FEF) and KAB Governance Consult at Koforidua.

He called for a more comprehensive legal framework to guide radio broadcast in the country because the current situation was not ideal for the country's democratic development.

Mr Appenteng called for a mechanism for public auditing of programmes of GBC to ensure that it fulfilled its mandate and urged management of GBC to initiate restructuring of its set up and human resource base.

He suggested that GBC should consider increasing its Television Channels to enable it fulfill its social mandate.

Ms Kathrin Meissner, Resident Director of FEF, said a public broadcaster needs to follow a clear cut criteria to comply with its responsibilities towards the people and its activities closely monitored by oversight and regulatory bodies.

She said well-financed independent public service broadcasting was important for the media to function as the Fourth Estate of the Realm.


Reverend Dr Samuel Asante-Antwi, Chairman of Board of Directors of GBC, observed that frequent changes in the leadership of GBC had affected the organization because it did not allow the leaders to achieve their visions.

He said regional branches of GBC should be encouraged to be autonomous and when possible GBC established regional television stations.

Mr William Ampem-Darko, Director General of GBC, observed that GBC should be well financed to effectively perform the role of public service broadcasting in the country.

He said due to its poor finances, salaries of GBC staff for the past six months had to be paid through loans from some banks in the country and for the past seven years, the annual budget of GBC had not been regular.

Mr Ransford Tetteh, President of the GJA, stressed the need for Ghana to develop a true public broadcasting system based on sound constitutional, political and economic principles, for the governance of the country and democracy.

He called for the adoption of measures that would instill professionalism into the broadcasting industry and promote the freedom and independence of the media in conformity with the country's constitution.

Mr Tetteh explained that the forum was to enable the public, media personnel, broadcasting professionals, civil society groups and policy makers to reflect on Ghana's broadcasting industry, especially public service broadcasting and propose recommendations to make it more effective.


Source: GNA