GBC transforms relay stations

The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) will soon transform its relay stations across the country for community radio stations to address the issue of over-staffing currently facing the corporation.

The Director-General of the National Public Broadcaster, Major Albert Don-Chebe (rtd), said this in Accra when the Minister of Information and Media Relations, Mr Mahama Ayriga, paid a working visit to the corporation on Tuesday.

The visit gave the minister the opportunity to familiarize with GBC operations and listen to challenges facing the corporation.

Major Don-Chebe (rtd) said the revenue GBC generate was not enough for it to embark on any vibrant programmes, and appealed to the Government to review the television (TV) license fee, to enable the corporation to rake more money to ensure the provision of quality services to the public.

The Director-General said if the TV license fees were reviewed, it would lift GBC burden on Government as well as return about 37 million Ghana Cedis into government coffers.

He said because GBC was a national public broadcaster and had an obligation to give coverage to public programmes, it lost lots of revenue, which made their packages unattractive to sponsors and advertisers,

Major Don-Chebe (rtd) asked the Government to support GBC with funding.

He announced that GBC would transform its regional branches into strategic business units, and re-organise the marketing division into functional account management units to facilitate the generation of revenue.

On education, Major Don-Chebe (rtd) said “plans are underway to fast track affiliation of the GBC Training School with National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI) to start degree courses”.

Mr Ayariga said GBC would remain a powerful tool, which nobody could undermine.

He said discussions were on-going on “the raising of funds to re-tool the corporation to improve on its performance”, and urged GBC management to submit a formal request to Government for discussion.

Mr Ayariga, who toured facilities of the Corporation, pledged Government’s commitment to resourcing the state media, to enable them to maintain their credibility to continue to carry on with their duties without any hindrances.