Ghana Broadcasting Corporation

Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC)
Terrestrial television and
radio broadcast network
Industry Broadcasting
Predecessor Gold Coast Broadcasting System-31 July 1935 (1935-07-31)
Founded 1 January 1953 (1953-01-01)
Area served
 Ghana, 10 regions
Key people
 Major Albert Don-Chebe
(Director General) l
Mrs. Francisca Ashietey-Odunton (Deputy Director General) Abubakari Alhassan
(Regional Director-Wa)
Products Broadcasting, radio, web portals
Services Television, radio, online
Owner Government of Ghana
Website gbcghana.com/

The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) is the public broadcaster in Ghana. It is funded by broadcasting television commercials and the levying of a television licence, costing 3 cedis (about € 0.29).[1]

History

The broadcasting service was originally known as the Gold Coast Broadcasting System, introduced on 31 July 1935 by the colonial Governor, Sir Arnold Hodson,[2] before it was renamed to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation upon the country's independence in 1957. Throughout its history it has been independent of the government's Information Services Department.[3]

Establishment

Broadcasting began in Ghana on July 31, 1935 from a wired relay station opened in Accra. The brain behind the introduction of broadcasting into the country was the then Governor of the Gold Coast,Sir Arnold Hodson, affectionately known as the "Sunshine Governor".

He was ably assisted by a British radio engineer, Mr. F.A.W. Byron. By 1700GMT on that historic day, gramophone records of martial and light music were relayed and at exactly 1745GMT the voice of Sir Arnold Hodson came through to break the tension and the suspense with this explicit message:

“One of the main reasons for introducing the Relay Service is to bring News, Entertainment and Music into the homes of all and sundry. This will bring to an end the barriers of isolation and ignorance in the path of progress and also to enable the people of Gold Coast to improve on their very rich cultural music".[2]

Administration

The new broadcasting Service was code-named Radio "ZOY". It was manned by eight technicians and housed in a small bungalow on 9th Road near the Ridge Police Station in Accra. Broadcasting first begun in four Ghanaian languages, namely Fanti, Twi, Ga, Ewe, and later Hausa. Part-time staff were engaged to translate and announce the news in these languages until 1943 when full-time staff were appointed. Between 1946 and 1953, the organisation was administered by the Public Relation Department, now the Information Services Department.[2]

1953

On the recommendation of a commission set up in 1953, the Gold Coast Broadcasting System (GCBS) was established and from there it became a department in its own right. On attainment of independence in 1957, the Gold Coast was renamed Ghana and the GCBS became Ghana Broadcasting Service (GBS). The legislation that basically set up GBC as an establishment was National Liberation Council Degree number 226(NLCD266) of 1968.[2]

Television and radio stations

GBC operates one television station, GTV, which is broadcast to the whole of Ghana via satellite. Additionally, GBC operates two national and 10 regional radio stations, which are located in the ten regions of Ghana. Uniiq FM, for example, is in Accra.

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ "MPs Fail To Pay TV license?" Ghana Today, 13 July 2006.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "About Ghana Broadcasting Corporation", official website.
  3. ↑ Wells, Alan (1997), World Broadcasting: A Comparative View, Greenwood Publishing Group, p. 162. ISBN 978-1-56750-246-6.
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