The Ghana Community Radio Network (GCRN) is an association of Community Radio stations in Ghana broadcasting in local languages across rural communities nationally.[1] GCRN was established in 1999 as a community radio service which offers a third model of radio broadcasting in addition to commercial and public broadcasting.[2][3] Thereby association's aim is: "GCRN aims to enhance the use and build the capacity of community radio to enable marginalized communities and groups to generate and share their knowledge and experience, to participate in discourse and decision-making at every level, to develop the richness of their culture, and to strengthen their communities as part of the national and global family."[2][4]
| Industry | News media |
|---|---|
| Founded | Accra |
| Headquarters | |
Number of locations | Ghana |
Area served | Ghana |
| Products | News media |
| Website | gcrna |
Ghana Community Radio Network (GCRN) provides a mechanism for enabling individuals, groups, and communities to tell their own stories, to share experiences and, in a media-rich world, to become creators and contributors of media, as a nonprofit organiasation.[5][4]
History
editGCRN since its inception has its primary aim of localising mass communication within Ghana audience as it is believed broadcasting in local languages are being overlooked by commercial or mass-media broadcaster.[6] The association advocates that a reorientation of programming and organization would improve drastically Radio’s contribution to education and development.[6][7]
According to DEVEX, "the association has 19 members on-air. They serve communities in 8 out of the 10 Regions of Ghana.[2] Between them, they broadcast in 16 indigenous languages, including many that would otherwise leave their communities un-voiced." In addition, GCRN counts 12 Community Radio initiatives. These are initiatives that are awaiting their frequencies. Once they get on-air, the remaining two Regions would have at least one Community Radio station."[2]
In 2005, Prof. Alex Quarmyne, the Executive Director of Radio Ada in Accra, said: "there are only six community radio stations in Ghana - Radio Ada; Radio Peace in Winneba; Radio Progress in Wa; Royals FM in Wenchi; Dormaa FM in Dormaa Ahenkro and Radio Afram Plains in Donkokrom, which has just began operations."[8][9] Radio Gurune is also part of the community radio network in Ghana.[10]
Ghana Community Radio Network is support by World Bank (WB) in Ghana and UNESCO for its education and Media training of young people.[8][1]
See also
edit
- International Freedom of Expression Exchange
- World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC)
- CRAOL (Community Radio Forum of Ireland - Irish Sector Body)
- Community Media Association (UK Sector Body)
- Prometheus Radio Project
- Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (Bangladesh Sector Body)
- List of Community Radio Stations in the United States
- National Federation of Community Broadcasters (US association)
References
edit- ^ a b "Legislation on community radio broadcasting: comparative study of the legislation of 13 countries, (CI-2003/WS1) Ghana, 2003". UNESDOC.UNESCO.Org. 2003. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Ghana Community Radio Network (GCRN), Profile". Devex.com. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
- ^ "Ghana Community Radio Network (GCRN) [2005] by Quarmyne, W." AgricFAO.Org. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ a b "Community Access and Participation in Community Radio Broadcast (AM Faisal) 2018". Ajol Info. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ "Ghana Community Radio Network (Profile)". GhanaWeb. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ a b "Independent Broadcasting in Ghana, Implications and Challenges, Univ. of Shana" (PDF). Core.ac.uk. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
- ^ "The Silver Bullet For Rural Campaign Conundrums: Shooting From Community Radio Stations And Information Centers Iddriisu Fuseini". ModernGhana. 29 September 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ a b "Ghana Radio Community Network rejects portions of guidelines". GhanaWeb. 30 November 2001. Archived from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ "Struggling community radio networks Appeal to NCA on license renewal". GhanaWeb. 4 December 2019. Archived from the original on 11 December 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ "Lessons from Community Radio in Ghana (video)". MsCollege.ca. 15 February 2018. Archived from the original on 8 December 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2020.