Government committed to revamping the media landscape

Mr Fritz Baffuor, Minister of Information, on Wednesday said Government was committed to revamping the media landscape, to facilitate the work of journalists towards national development.

He expressed particular interest in the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), and said Government would expedite action on its intension to invest in GBC .

Mr Baffuor made the pledge when he visited GBC, to interact with management and staff and to discuss how to deal with challenges confronting the corporation.

He said: “GBC is one of the icons of our nation; you cannot remove GBC from the aspirations of Ghana, GBC was born out of the need for Ghana’s development.”

Mr Baffuor said he appreciated challenges of the Ghanaian media and indicated that: “There’s something that we’ve got to do for the media in this country.”

Recounting his experiences with GBC, the Minister said, his first encounter with GBC was in 1965 when he was a guest artiste, and added: “I have seen GBC in various forms and experiences with its transition from black and white to colour and I commend the GBC for its efforts in spite of the challenges".

Concerning the payment of television licence fee, Mr Baffuor asked management and workers union of GBC to come up with alternative ways of collecting revenue, and cited that in Kenya every household paid a fee towards the creative industry.

He said: "I will be a leading advocate for GBC and the media as a whole to get better resources".

Mr Berifi Appenteng, Director General, GBC, commended the Minister for showing interest in GBC, and said the corporation had challenges in terms of staff and the new technological era.

He expressed hope that the Ministry and GBC would work together to improve the corporation.

Mr Sam-Nat Kevor, Assistant Secretary of GBC workers union, requested for vehicles for the corporation to enhance its work, especially in this election year.

Mr Oscar Nchor, Director of Technical Production, GBC, conducted the Minister round the various departments.