Broadcasting Bill to be laid before parliament this year – Says Info Minister
Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah says the government is striving to ensure that Ghana’s new broadcasting Bill will be laid before parliament this year and possibly passed into law.
When passed the law will seek to improve the falling standards in Ghana’s electronic media sector and ensure that it starts to embrace modern best practices.
The current Broadcasting Bill that is the indistry guideline was drafted back in 2012.
The Minister of Information made this known over the weekend at the official launch of Ahwenepa Fm in Juaso in the Asante Akim South Municipality of Ghana.
He said that government will continue to work to improve media freedom in the country.
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“President Akuffo Addo says his government will continue to work to ensure the work of Journalists will be protected and supported and that is why as the Sector Minister, one law we seek to add to promote the work of the media is the broadcasting act, as it seeks to direct and guide the operations of various media organizations.The law would be sent to parliament and we will ensure parliament pass the law for us to work with it,” said Mr. Nkrumah.
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah however urged journalists to be circumspect in their reportage and abide by the ethics of the profession.
He was of the belief that the establishment of Ahwenepa Fm, which is the first of its kind in the Asante Akim South municipality will help propel development in the municipality.
Professor Kenneth Attafuah speaking at the occasion said establishing the radio station was part of efforts of contributing his quota to the development of the Juaso Township and the municipality as a whole.
Prof. Attafuah elaborated: “I especially want to thank God for the opportunity and what He has done through Juaso Township to instill in me from childhood. I attended school in this town and now I have the opportunity to bring something back for the Juaso Township, this community molded me. I was not an extraordinary student above my peers in school but it is just that the blessings of the Lord that fall on me and a bit of working hard and good training from my parents especially my mother, my family and the entire community encouraged me…”
Speaking on the location of the new radio station, the Professor said he “…could have done [this] in Accra or a different place and it might not be recognized by some people… but I wanted to do it in my home town to help facilitate development here.”
Ahwenepa Fm (www.ahwenepaonline.com) which is owned by JoyKen Platinum Company limited seeks to help raise the standard of journalism and harness the cultural values in of Ghana.
Written by Mavis Okyere
Oral Ofori is Founder and Publisher at www.TheAfricanDream.net, a digital storyteller and producer, and also an information and research consultant.
