GBC to promote culture of the country…as Volta Star Radio Celebrates 13th Anniversary
Author: Samuel Agbewode, Ho - Ghanaian Chronicle
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2009
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2009
The Director General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), Mr. William Ampem- Darko, has promised the people of the Volta Region, to enhance broadcast activities of both radio and television to all parts of the region, and expressed regret that the Volta Star Radio (VSR), which had wider coverage to other regions, was currently not being received by people in some parts of the region.
He said his outfit would take steps to rectify the problem, as well as improve on television reception in the region, to ensure that both radio and television provide quality programmes in the areas of education, entertainment, and informing the people to help improve their lives.
Mr. Ampem-Darko, who was speaking at a durbar to mark the 13th Anniversary celebration of the Volta Star Radio in Ho, pointed out that the GBC, as a public service provider, had the responsibility of promoting the rich culture heritage of the country, which, he said, could become possible through the determination and hard work of the personnel.
The GBC Director General stressed that in the era of the proliferation of private radio and television stations, the state-owned radio and television needed to distinguish itself through sound programmes that promote education, and market the culture of the country to the international community.
Mr. Ampem-Darko explained that the emergence of the numerous radio and television stations, called for competition to provide the best programmes that would mostly be appreciated by the people, noting that the GBC was the only station that could address the needs of the people.
He said some of the programmes of some radio stations, that people tuned in to most of the time, did not live up to the expectations of the people, as most of such programmes lacked ingredients of effective broadcasting, as they normally use unacceptable languages.
He, however, said since the GBC was a public service station, there was the need for the station to enjoy goodwill from the public, and commended the people of the Volta Region for their support for the VSR over the years, which had made it possible for the station to grow up to its current state.
The Volta Regional Director of the Volta Star Radio, Mr. Ralph Avornyo, recounted the difficulties the radio station had passed through over the years, and lauded the various contributions made to support the station during those difficult periods.
Mr. Avornyo mentioned technical problems that normally led to frequent breakdown of both the radio and television stations, thereby denying the people in the region of programmes and activities tailored at projecting social and economic development, adding that even though the radio station went through such difficult times, it was able to serve the interests of the people in the region.
The Chairman of the Anniversary Planning Committee and a popular host of Akan and English programmes at the VSR, Asafoatse Obeng Achea, said the committee was not being supported financially to perform its duties, but with the determination of the committee members and support from some people in the region, the celebrations of past and present anniversaries were successful.
Mr. Achea also commended the people of the region, the Republic of Togo, and the Afram Plains in the Eastern Region, for their financial contributions, which were used to construct a fence wall around the VSR premises, noting that such commitment demonstrated enough goodwill towards the station.
There were culture displays at the function, such as borbor and agbadza, to mark the anniversary of the VSR.
