Indebtedness deny Wassa West TV transmission

Accra, Nov 30, GNA- The people of the Wassa West District and its environs in the Western Region, have not had access to television for the past two weeks as a result of the huge indebtedness on the part of the Tarkwa sub-station of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC). The sub-station of GBC at Tarkwa, responsible for the transmission, was indebted to the Electricity Company of Ghana to the tune of GH46,000 (460,000,000 cedis), resulting in the sub-station been disconnected and therefore unable to operate.

These were contained in a statement signed by Mrs. Gifty Kusi, the New Patriotic Party Member of Parliament for the Tarkwa Nsuaem Constituency and a Deputy Majority Whip, and made available to GNA. It said the effect of the situation on the people could not be overemphasized "considering the fact that television is the single most influential medium of communication not only in Ghana but the world at large."

The statement also indicated "The people of Tarkwa have been left in the dark.....I am particularly worried about the inability of our children to benefit from the President's Special Initiative on Distance Learning."

The statement said the MP had launched a fund to raise money to defray the debt so that the people could enjoy the benefits of television.

It said "As a starter, I donate GH2,000 (20,000,000 cedis) as seed money for the fund. I am appealing to the chiefs and elders, the general public, corporate organizations, non-governmental organizations, individuals and philanthropists who have the interest of the district at heart to respond and donate generously to the fund to enable the residents of the district access television reception."

The statement said all donations should be paid to Ghana Commercial Bank account number 4051130005644, Tarkwa branch." 30 Nov. 07