Professor Amin Alhassan, the Director-General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), has assured the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament that the State Broadcaster currently broadcasts in 27 Ghanaian languages.
issues raised in the 2021 Auditor-General's Report concerning GBC, Prof Alhassan clarified that the corporation has not discontinued broadcasting in local languages.
In the past, GBC used to broadcast in six local languages, but now that number has increased significantly. Responding to complaints from Mr. Rockson-Nelson Etse Kwami Dafeamekpor, a Member of PAC and National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for South Dayi, regarding programs organized in Ewe, Dagbani, and other local languages, Prof Alhassan explained the changes in broadcasting methods.
He highlighted that in the past when GBC had Radio Ghana (Radio One) and no Regional FM Stations, the local languages were broadcast from Accra to the entire country.
However, with the establishment of 18 FM Stations across the country, each FM Station now broadcasts in a specific local language. For instance, Dagbani, which used to be broadcast from Accra, is now aired on Radio Savannah in Tamale.
Prof Alhassan assured that GBC still broadcasts in local languages such as Ewe, Dagbani, and Nzema on GTV. While some programs may have been rescheduled, the total broadcast duration for local languages remains unchanged.
He emphasized that GBC takes pride in its local language broadcasting, and the number of Ghanaian languages covered has significantly increased.
The Director-General reaffirmed GBC's commitment to promoting and preserving the country's linguistic diversity through its broadcasting services.
Accompanied by Mr. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the Minister of Information, Prof Alhassan's appearance before the PAC shed light on GBC's efforts to continue providing content in multiple Ghanaian languages, supporting cultural exchange and understanding nationwide.