Voltarians Worried Over Frequent Break Down Of Volta Star

The frequent break down in transmission of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) Volta Star Radio, located in the capital Ho, is a major worry to the people, as they have expressed concern about the development, and called on the government to find a lasting solution to the problems confronting the management of the radio station.

The people explained that the most of the time when listening to their favourite  programmes, the radio would just go off air, leaving them to no other option than to tune into other private stations, which did not offer programmes to their satisfaction.

The Spiritual Head of the Arise and Shine Mission International Prophetic Prayer and Healing Ministries, Prophet Emmanuel Kwadzo Ojuku Koradza, who is the latest to express concern about the situation, has made a passionate appeal to the government to, as a matter of urgency, address the problems confronting the GBC regional station.

Prophet Koradza pointed out that the Volta Star Radio, which serves the general interest of the people in the region, most of the time had to stop working for weeks, with most of its operation would be limited to only Ho and its environs, thereby denying the people the benefits that they derived from the station's programmes and activities across the region.

Speaking at the headquarters of the Church to mark 'Pentecostal Day' celebration at Nyagbo-Gagbefe in the Afadzato-South District, Prophet Koradze stressed that even though there existed private radio stations, such stations did not serve the general interest of the people in the region, as their operations differed in terms of programmes, as well as limited in coverage.

He noted that it was very important for the government to show much concern towards issues that affect the development of the people, explaining further that the government established radio station had contributed immensely to the development of the region, through its educative programmes and activities, therefore, the frequent closure of the station would seriously affect development in the region.

The Spiritual Head of the Arise and Shine Mission International Prophetic Pray and Healing Ministries also appealed to the Volta Region House of Chiefs to show more interest in the challenges confronting the radio station by making a special appeal to the government to resolve whatever problems faced the station.

Prophet Koradza again, challenged the members of parliament from the region to regard issues confronting the people as their core responsibility, particularly the breakdown in transmission of the station, which most communities depended on for development over the years.

He noted that if the political leadership really cared about the development of the region, they would recognise the important role the station played, and would take the necessary steps to find out, as well as address the difficulties, without waiting to be told.

Members of the church, who later spoke to The Chronicle , observed that it was becoming clear that the government and members of Parliament from the region showed concerns about development activities only during electioneering campaigns, and after they had the mandate of the people, they forget about them until another election period.

They explained that the same Volta Star Radio, which was no longer functioning effectively, was the major platform that politicians channelled their campaign messages through to the people, because of the vast area that the station covered, stressing that unfortunately, after the station had served their interests, they no longer showed interest in it.

'The Volta Region normally finds itself in darkness, sometimes it is difficult to listen to news from Accra through the Volta Star Radio, and we feel that the region has been isolated from the rest of the country. The situation makes us feel very sad, but the region is referred to as 'World Bank' of the ruling government. We have noticed with concern that the region that normally brings the NDC to power is always neglected whenever it is in government, we are worried about the situation,' they lamented.

When contacted, the Volta Regional Director of Volta Star Radio, Mr. Ralph Avornyo, confirmed the story, but explained that the station did not totally close down, and said the major problem of the radio station was that the Electricity Company of Ghana had disconnected the main transmitter station at Amedzofe, due to the inability of the station to pay its bills.

Mr. Avornyo further explained that since the transmitter station was disconnected more than one month ago, the regional management of the radio station normally purchase diesel to fuel the activities of the station, which, according to him, had limited the station's area of coverage only to the regional capital, Ho, and its neighbouring communities.

The Regional Director of the Volta Star Radio continued that the station since then could not continue in the transmission of its regular programmes, but selected specific programmes for broadcast within specific periods, and agreed to the fact that since transmission could no longer reach the majority of communities in the region, the people could refer to the situation as not functioning effectively.

Mr. Avornyo pointed out that the problem of payment arose when the GBC headquarters, which formerly paid the electricity bills, decided that all regional stations should pay their bills. A development, he said, was not possible, but assured the people that the management at headquarters was dialoging with the ECG to address the problem.