The Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA), has organised a one-day capacity building training for Journalists to mark the 2021 edition of the World Radio Day (WRD).
The workshop which was organised with support from United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on 13th February, trained Journalists on media freedom and safety of journalists, the evolution of radio in Ghana and adherence to ethical standards and professionalism
President of GIBA Andrew Danso-Aninkora, addressing the participants of the training workshop in Accra, which had some over thirty (30) Journalists across the country, stressed the need for Journalists to adapt to the ever changing technology in radio.
‘’It is important that we take note of the fact that as we grow we change, and we need to adapt to the situation. With the COVID-19 pandemic, we need to regroup and strategize. Technology helps us to be more mobile, while we are moving constantly, we need to remember where we are coming from. The theme, for this year is very timely; New world New radio is so right for the times we are in. I want to thank UNESCO for their continuous support and I hope our collaborations continue in the future. Coincidentally, GIBA is in its 25th year and we are looking forward to greater collaborations in future.’’
Abdourahamane Diallo, Representative of UNESCO to Ghana, thanked GIBA for the initiative. ‘’ I want to thank GIBA for organising this capacity building workshop. The World Radio Day was proclaimed in 2011 by the Member States of UNESCO, and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012. As an International Day, February 13 became World Radio Day (WRD). Radio is a powerful medium for celebrating humanity in all its diversity and constitutes a platform for democratic discourse.’’
Abdourahamane Diallo also explained the sub themes of 2021 edition of WRD.
‘’This edition of WRD is divided into three main sub-themes: Evolution, which talks about how the world changes, and radio evolves. This sub-theme refers to the resilience of the radio, to its sustainability. Innovation; the world changes, radio adapts and innovate. Radio has had to adapt to new technologies to remain the go-to medium of mobility, accessible everywhere and to everyone. Connection, the world changes, radio connects. This sub-theme highlights radio’s services to our society—natural disasters, socio-economic crises, epidemics.’’
Sulemana, the Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), took participants through topics including the safety of Journalists and Prince Hari Crystal also gave the overview, evolution and history of radio in Ghana.
The workshop was both in person and via zoom, Vice-President Linda Asante-Agyei Ghana Journalists Association of Ghana (GJA) gave the solidarity message via zoom calling on Journalists to share good content.
‘’Radio is a powerful medium, radio has the widest reach in Ghana and should have good content. Unfortunately, radio is being misused. GJA is calling on radio stations to be cautious in the discharge of their duties’’ she said.