GHANA IN TALKS WITH JAPAN ON RETOOLING GBC- DEPUTY INFORMATION MINISTER


A Deputy Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has disclosed that government is in advanced talks with the Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA, to retool the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, (GBC), within the next six months. 

The initiative is part of steps being taken to position the public service broadcaster for digital broadcasting as the country gears up for a complete digital broadcasting migration in compliance with international requirement. 

Mr. Oppong Nkrumah made this known to the GBC in Kumasi during his working visit to the Ashanti regional offices of the Corporation.

His visit forms was part of his four-day working tour of the Ashanti region. 

He first met and interacted with staff of the GBC, Ghana News Agency, GNA and the Information Service Department, ISD. Regional Heads of the ISD, Madam Dina Dita Sarpei, the Regional Manager of the GNA, Mrs. Elizabeth Kankam Boadu, and the Ashanti Regional Director of GBC, Mr. Sam Kwatia, took turns to bring to the attention of the Deputy Minister some of their operational challenges. 

Later, the staff of the agencies also had the chance to voice out concerns regarding their working environments to the Deputy Minister for consideration. 

Mr. Oppong Nkrumah conceded that the three agencies under his ministry are severely challenged now mainly due to the keen competition in the media landscape, logistical constraints and under staffing. 

He mentioned for instance that the GNA is now being overtaken by the many online news portals that have speed as their hallmark. 

The Deputy Information Minister nonetheless, asked management of the three agencies to take advantage of the competition and challenges to adopt innovative and creative strategies to remain very relevant in the scheme of national matters and also to maximize revenue generation internally for their operations. 

Afterwards, the Deputy Information Minister visited the Kumasi office of the GBC to familiarize himself with the working environment there. 

He first met with the Regional Director where he was briefed on activities undertaken at the regional level of GBC. 

He was then conducted around the Garden City Television studio and Master Control Room which as well serves as the Control Room of Garden City Radio, the regional-based fm station of GBC. 

Mr. Oppong Nkrumah also visited the GCR studio, offices of the Programs section, the Transmitter Hall as well as the Radio and TV Newsroom. 

In an interview, the Deputy Information Minister disclosed that government will very soon enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA for retooling of the GBC. 

This project, according to Mr. Oppong Nkrumah, could be realized within the next six month.

GBC