Broadcasting Law needed to streamline operations of radio stations -Ahwoi

Accra, May 24, GNA - Professor Kwamena Ahwoi, Local Governance Expert, on Tuesday, called for a Broadcasting Law to streamline operations of radio stations and make them community-based to promote development in rural communities. He pointed out that promulgation of the law should compel radio stations to allocate time for discussion on issues concerning the communities where they operate. Speaking at the launch of a pilot project "Using radio to promote effective and participatory local governance in Ghana," Prof. Ahwoi said development would thrive when members of the community had a sense of belonging for a radio station where they could discuss and debate issues concerning them.

The project, an initiative of Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), is to enable radio stations to pay more attention to activities of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the country. Twelve radio stations have been selected for the pilot project. Prof. Ahwoi said Article 240 of the 1992 Constitution was the take off point for decentralisation, and he provided a fair overview of decentralisation, political structures required and resources needed for the execution of projects.


He said there was the need for the media to focus on activities of the assemblies for development, and also effective communication between members and their constituents, as well as probity and accountability. Prof. Ahwoi said the import of the Legislative Instrument (LI) 1961, which replaced LI 1589, sought to change the work of the assemblies and integrate departments, to better manage the assemblies, noting that effective communication was crucial in the new arrangement.


Mr Kojo Yankah, Founder of Africa University College of Communication (AUCC) said the role of radio in the decentralisation process could not be underestimated because it articulates the democratic process to the people much better. He said Frequency Modulation (FM) stations should not exceed their specified boundaries so that they could better serve their communities, in addition to their traditional functions of informing, educating and entertaining the people.


Mr Yankah charged the National Communications Authority (NCA) to be fair and review the allocation of channels to the radio stations. He noted that the idea of creating a community radio station and handing it over to the community should be abandoned, saying that, the communities themselves should initiate for a radio station to bring about a sense of belonging. He called on the media to dedicate time for discussions in local languages, to enable people in the communities to contribute towards development and create a mechanism for feedback.

Mr Aquainas Quansah, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, who launched the project, said the Ministry would build the capacity of local stakeholders to give autonomy to assemblies and make them business oriented, to enable them to invest in income generating ventures for development. He called for a an orientation programme to renew the mindset of the 30,000 people, who had left the civil service to join the Local Government Service to make it efficient and effective, adding that, local governance was the heart beat of every government.


Prof. Kwame Karikari, Executive Director of MFWA said there was the need for the citizenry to participate in local government, which he said would be made possible if the media made a conscious effort to set the agenda. He said too much attention had been given to the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary and called for a shift to developmental issues.


Dr Esther Ofei Aboagye, Director of Local Government Training School called on media personnel to specialise in particular areas, to make them conversant with the specific fields. She said it is embarrassing to see journalists discussing issues they were not conversant with.