Mr Samuel Nartey George, the Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, has called for implementable actions to help shape the broadcasting sector to become inclusive, competitive, and ready for the digital age.
He said, “We must agree that for our media landscape to remain profitable and viable, deep reforms and consolidation are necessary. These must be embarked on as a collective effort between practitioners and the regulator.”
Mr Nartey George made the call at a high-level forum organised by Africa Media Bureau (AMB) on the topic; “Broadcasting at the Crossroads: Shaping Ghana’s Electronic Future” held in Accra.
The forum which was on the theme: “Aligning Policy, Technology, and Global Best Practices for Resilient Media Landscape,” was sponsored by K-NET and WAP and supported by ChannelOne TV and Citi FM.
The Minister said many broadcasting stations in Ghana were struggling with high operational cost due to growing competition from digital platforms and fragmented advertising revenue.
“In the light of this, my Ministry would collaborate with the Ministry of Government Communications and other stakeholders to take a dispassionate look at the current Broadcasting Bill,” saying this was to make the Bill reflective of the nuanced realities of today’s world.
He said the role of broadcasting in Ghana’s democratic life, social cohesion, and economic development could not be overstated, adding that, it remained the primary medium for news, education, cultural expression, and national conversation.
Mr Nartey George said, Ghana’s media was rightly celebrated as one of the most vibrant in Africa, with over 700 FM stations, more than 100 television channels, and rapidly expanding digital ecosystem.
“This vibrancy is in numbers. The question of media quality must however be considered very seriously,” he said
He said government was working with the National Communications Authority by taking steps to ensure compliance with conditions of broadcasting authorisation.
The Minister explained that the recent audit of FM and TV authorisations, together with spectrum monitoring exercise, were to ensure that only complaint and operational stations remained on air, stating that, “This protects spectrum integrity and strengthens the credibility of our authorisation regime.”
He urged all broadcasting authorisation holders to do the right thing by applying for renewal on time while paying their fees and complying with the technical regulations.
“As your presenters hold the Government to account, please ensure you maintain your authorisations in good standing with the regulator,” he stated.
Mr Nartey George said the ongoing rapid transformation of broadcasting presented challenges and opportunities and for Ghana to remain competitive, broadcasters must embrace digital transformation, adopt new technologies and invest in skills development to stay in business.
Partnerships with telecom operators, technology providers, and international organisations would be critical in this regard, he advised.
He said while the Ministry was in support of new media to augment traditional media in the dissemination of information, as well as the provision of education, and entertainment content, the new media must subject itself to the same rigours of conventional media.
“The media be it traditional or new cannot be the Wild West, where incredulous allegations are made, reputations are damaged, and images are soiled beyond repair simply for clickbait,” said.
He added, “I cannot and would not, as the Minister for the sector, seek to regulate what any media outlet publishes. That is your democratically protected editorial discretion. In the same vein, my democratically mandated role is to regulate through my plethora of regulations, how your editorial discretion is broadcast.”
He stressed the need for collaborative work within the remits of their respective mandates, to ensure the protection and longevity of our democracy.
Mr Nartey George called on Ghanaians to agree to drive out charlatans parading as men of God from the airwaves through the regulatory whip, while ensuring that the unscrupulous fetish priests have no place in the public broadcast.
“Pornographic and sexually explicit content should not be allowed to continue to soil the innocence of the airwaves,” he cautioned.
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor, who was at the occasion, urged influential and well-to-do in Ghana to endeavour to support in the establishment of a strong broadcasting outlet such as the Al-Jazeera and the CNN to help tell the African stories.
He said this would help in portraying the African continent positively to the world, while promoting intra trade through the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Source: GNA
The post Broadcasting Bill will be looked at dispassionately to reflect current realities – Minister appeared first on Ghana Business News.
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