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Tag: Broadcasting Bill

  • Information Minister urges media to support advocacy on Broadcasting Bill 

    Information Minister urges media to support advocacy on Broadcasting Bill 

    Minister for Information, has appealed to the media to assist the Ministry in advocating for the passage of the Broadcasting Bill into law.

    She emphasized that the bill has received significant attention under the current administration and requires support to prevent any delays in its enactment.

    “I believe you are aware that over the past few years, we’ve invited stakeholders on the draft broadcasting bill. We’ve done validation exercises, we’ve been going to the AG back, and we’ve called for input among others. Earlier this year, we got a final draft, which we sent back to the AG’s office for their comments. We’ve received the comments, but looking at the scope of work, that is what I must say, so far as the draft is concerned, we are about 90% through with the scope of work, based on the inputs that have come from our stakeholders. That being said, we know that in terms of the draft we are at the final stage,” she emphasised.

    Progressing through various stages, the draft Bill is now poised for its final stage, awaiting presentation before parliament.

    During her visit to the Multimedia Group Limited in Accra, Fatimatu Abubakar emphasized the significance of the Broadcasting Bill’s advancement.

    The Minister encouraged the management to engage in the 3rd Cohort of the Media Capacity Enhancement Programme, aimed at training 100 journalists nationwide.

    Highlighting other media support initiatives like the International Fund for Public Interest Media (IFPIM), Fatimatu Abubakar stressed the government’s dedication to fostering a conducive environment for journalists.

    Emphasizing collaboration between the media and government, the Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to upholding press freedom and supporting media operations.

    CEO Ken Ansah underscored the need for regulation in the media space, expressing concerns about declining standards.

    The Multimedia Group expressed gratitude for the support from IFPIM and assured the Minister of their commitment to fulfilling their mandate.

    1. GJA calls for the passage of Broadcasting Bill

      GJA calls for the passage of Broadcasting Bill

      To purify the Ghanaian airwaves, the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) is urging Parliament to swiftly enact the Broadcasting Bill.

      GJA underscored the importance and role radio plays in peace and conflict resolution and asked that regulations, specifically, the Broadcasting Bill be urgently passed to prevent using radio as a tool for fomenting trouble.

      As part of activities to commemorate 2023’s World Radio Day, GJA called on broadcasters to be deliberate in their broadcasts to promote peace rather than violence.

      In a presser to commemorate the Day, GJA wrote, “on this occasion, the GJA also wishes to encourage radio broadcasters to be conscious of their obligation towards peace, especially as the 2024 electioneering gathers momentum. The high stakes at the intra-party and inter-party levels of politics, as well as the high-voltage anxiety, tension, and frustration emanating from the country’s current economic challenges, provide good seeds of disorder, chaos, and violence. But under no circumstance must radio provide the fertile ground for the sowing and germination of such destructive seeds. Rather, radio owners, managers and broadcasters must use their platforms for peace-building and conflict prevention.”

      The presser added that “the GJA believes one critical step needed to be taken to sanitize the airwaves is the passage of the Broadcasting Bill which has been going in and out of Parliament for many years. We urge the Executive and Legislature to give maximum attention to the bill and get it passed immediately. In fact, the Executive and Parliament cannot absolve themselves of blame as far as the current state of radio broadcasting in Ghana is concerned, and until they work in concert to pass the Broadcasting Bill immediately, they cannot raise any clean hands against the ills of radio broadcasting in Ghana.”

      Proclaimed in 2011 by the Member States of UNESCO, and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 as an International Day, February 13 became World Radio Day (WRD).

      This year’s Day is celebrated under the theme “Radio and Peace.”