TV Africa Inaugurated

Govt Won't Fight Media -JAK THE President, Mr J. A. Kufuor, has reiterated that the government has no interest in engaging battles with the media.

Rather, he said, the government will create the right atmosphere for media practitioners to operate.

Speaking at the inauguration of TV Africa, a private television station in Accra, the President stressed the need for the energies of the government and the media to be directed at finding solutions to problems facing the nation.

TV Africa is the fifth private television station to be established in Ghana, since the liberalisation of the airwaves in the late 1980s. There are already about 60 radio stations in Ghana.

Owned by the celebrated Ghanaian film maker, Mr Kwaw Ansah,TV Africa is designed to broadcast news and programmes in Africa from the African perspective.

President Kufuor said the government will continue to play its part towards the creation of a congenial atmosphere that will invigorate media practitioners and make the media flourish.

He said the government has demonstrated its in determination to work with the media to transform the society.

He underscored the need for the mass media to use their powerful media to define the image of Ghanaians and integrate their cultures and heritage in their programmes. He advised the media against the over-reliance on programmes from the advanced parts of the world for reasons of profit alone.

The President advised the media to rather blend their programmes with the best of what the outside world has to offer.

The President noted that in Ghana’s circumstances, television, radio and print media must be used to energise and motivate the people, especially the youth, as well as help to inculcate an enlightened culture with the attributes of discipline, tolerance and truthfulness in the people.

“ The onslaught of foreign cultures on our various media is relentless and threatens our culture and identity,” he said.

The President said in spite of the financial difficulties, the media in Ghana should be able to assign their reporters to cover important events in other parts of Africa rather than depending onthe foreign media.

He commended Mr Ansah for the initiative and expressed the hope that TV Africa will blaze the trail in charting a path of innovation and imagination that will tell the African true story and with sensitivity.

Mr Alex K. Quarmyne, a communication expert and former chairman of Board of Directors of Graphic Communication Group Limited, underscored the need for a national broadcasting policy.

He explained that the policy should not only be dos and don’ts but also a vision of the society which all Ghanaians should share and subscribe to.

He said such a policy should be able to articulate which values should be promoted and as well indicate agreement on basic ingredients of broadcasting for these to be realised.

He said the lack of that broadcasting policy is even more disturbing when “ we consider that the comunication highway is a pathway to our minds.’’

Mr Kwaw Ansah, the Executive Producer and Chief Executive Officer of TV Africa said the vision of the TV station is to become the world’s most authentic and reliable audio-visual source of information about Africa in the 21st century.

“Using state- of- the- art equipment, our in-house programmes from our headquarters here in home Africa will uplift and enhance the soul and image of the African, both on the continent and in the diaspora,” he said.

“We will bring Africa to the rest of the world so that they finally appreciate the wonders of our continent,” Mr Ansah stated.

He said TV Africa will celebrate the true spirit , the creative mind and abounding talent of the African. He said although the task of changing the status quo will be difficult, there is hope that TV Africa will overcome the hurdles.

The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mrs Gifty Affenyi Dadzie, the Chairman of the National Media Commission, Mr Nutifafa Kuenyehia and President of Independent Broadcasting Association, Mr Fred Oware commended the management of the TV Africa for their initiative and foresight and wished them well.

The programme was attended by some dignitries including the Minister of Defence, Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Paapa Owusu Ankomah, Ms Elizabeth Ohene, Minister of State in charge of Tertiary Education, some Members of Parliament, religious leaders among others