Government to Revamp State-Owned Media – Felix Kwakye Ofosu
Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to revitalizing state-owned media organizations to enhance their viability and competitiveness.
Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Friday, November 7, Mr. Ofosu Kwakye disclosed that the Ministry, in collaboration with the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), is developing a comprehensive roadmap to transform key state media entities, including the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC).
He acknowledged the long-standing challenges confronting state media institutions such as revenue shortfalls, inadequate logistics, and intense competition from private and digital platforms which continue to undermine their operational sustainability.
“In the coming weeks, we expect to present a report to Cabinet for consideration. Once approved, we will engage the organizations on the transformation process. We will also report to Parliament so that, together, we can develop a model to safeguard these institutions,” he said.
The Minister urged the public to fulfil their legal obligation to pay TV license fees, describing them as a vital revenue source for the national broadcaster.
“You would be surprised that there are people who do not know that payment of the TV license is compulsory and backed by legislation. The first step is to establish an enforcement mechanism to ensure compliance, while also improving content to encourage voluntary payment,” he said.
Mr. Ofosu Kwakye, however, noted that while TV license fees alone cannot resolve all of GBC’s financial difficulties, they remain an important contribution to its sustainability.
“The challenges facing GBC go beyond the TV license. We are developing a comprehensive program to address these issues, but I still encourage everyone to pay the TV license,”he noted.
