Ghana Broadcasting Corporation DG calls for increased investment in radio
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Kwame Bediako
The Director General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), Professor Amin Alhassan, has underscored the need for greater investment in broadcast media—particularly radio.
He said that if given one million Ghanaian cedis (R1 619 790,00) to fulfill his mandate, he would allocate 80% of it to support radio stations, citing their vital role in shaping Ghana’s media and democratic landscape.
The Director General said this during a stakeholder engagement organised by the Constitutional Review Committee with journalists and the social media community,
‘I’m going to talk to you today about how we can keep our radio stations alive. And I also tell you this, [I would put more money] into radio stations, to keep them on. Not GTV and not GBC News,’ Alhassan affirmed.
He explained that most of GBC’s resources are channelled into keeping radio services operational, not primarily for advertising revenue but because they serve an essential function: ‘That is how we operate. Most of our resources are into keeping our radio stations alive.’
‘And they are alive not to do advertising to raise money, they are alive because they make sure that at least what is happening in the capital, in Parliament, in the courts, at the executive arm of government, we make sure they hear it in their language’
The Director General also pointed out that the core purpose of radio stations is not driven by commercial interests but by providing universal access to information.
He noted that radio’s role goes far beyond entertainment or advertising, it is a vital tool for ensuring that every Ghanaian, regardless of location or language, has access to essential news and information.
Alhassan further outlined the importance of trustworthy platforms in the era of social media, stressing the importance of trustworthy media platforms in the era of social media. He argued that despite the growing influence of social networks, there remains a critical need for public-interest media like the GBC, which prioritise national welfare over private profit.
He said government and public broadcasters must play a role in curbing misinformation and offering reliable content that serves the national good
‘And that is even in a case where everybody has access to social media; you will see a social media platform that is trustworthy. And that cannot be subjected to the private interest of the owner of the platform. That is what GBC does. It’s to cure the tendency for the private own media to seek their private interest.’
Alhassan’s remarks underscore a call for strategic investment in radio broadcasting as a means to strengthen Ghana’s democratic process. He advocates for funding that enhances the capacity of radio stations to deliver diverse, accessible and accurate information to all citizens, reinforcing the vital role that public broadcasting plays in national development and social cohesion.
- This article was first published here
