GJA urges GBC’s restructuring

The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Ransford Tetteh, has called for the immediate restructuring of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) through sound constitutional and economic principles to become a public service broadcaster.

“Despite its challenges we recognise the potential of GBC to become a true public service broadcaster. We are of the view that the earlier we restructure GBC on a sound constitu­tional and economic principle to become a truly public ser­vice broadcaster, the better,” he said.

Mr. Tetteh was speaking in Accra on Wednesday at a round table dialogue on the theme, Transforming GBC into a true public service broadcaster – Challenges and the way forward.

The occasion, which formed part of the programme of activities for this Year’s World Press Freedom Day celebration, also provided an opportunity to reflect on GBC’s aspirations to become a public service broadcaster, examine the challenges confronting it and propose solutions.

It was organised by the GJA in collaboration with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), GBC and the Media Foundation for West Af­rica.

Participants were drawn from the media, statutory bodies, academia, civil society, National Media Commission and board members of GBC.

Mr Tetteh explained that as a country, “we need to come to terms with best practices elsewhere in the world in the broadcasting industry and ensure that we adopt measures that promise sound operations without infringing on the freedom and independence of the various types and forms of media in conformity with our con­stitution.

Ms Katherine Meissner, Resident Director of FES, congratu­lated Ghana on her remarkable achievement in press freedom and development of the media landscape.

She said the second media barometer for Ghana, which was launched last month, attested to Ghana’s press freedom and the im­pressive development that media had attained.

Ms Meissner said public broadcasting played an important role in providing high quality information, education and entertainment for citizens everywhere.

“An independent, well-funded public service broadcaster, there­fore is an important pillar for the media executing its role as the forth realm of the state,” she noted.

The Director General of GBC, William Ampem-Darko, said GBC would transmit in seven major languages.

He said the GBC belonged to Ghanaians and not the government, and that everyone must help develop it.

Source: Ghanaian Times