GBC To Go Digital

Work started this month on a 17-Million Euro project, under which 32 new transmitters are being installed for the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) to improve television and radio reception throughout the country.

Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama announced this at a grand durbar, last Saturday, to climax the Kloyosikplemi (Descending the Mountain) Festival of the people of Yilo Krobo, in the Eastern Region, during which the Paramount Chief of the area, Kpetekple Narh Dawutey Ologo VI, complained about the poor television reception of the area.

In response, Vice President Mahama said before the completion of the project, however, some short-term remedial measures would soon be taken to improve TV reception in Yilo Krobo and other areas affected by the poor reception.

He explained that television reception was poor in some areas because the transmission infrastructure of and equipment of GBC were old and, consequently, experienced frequent breakdown. The major project is being financed with a German credit and undertaken by Rhode and Schwarz of Germany. It would change the transmission mode from microwave to satellite.

Vice President Mahama told the people of Yilo Krobo that government was determined to provide roads, schools, telecommunication and other basic facilities to improve their standard of living. He said: "The tarring of the Huhunya-Klo-Agogo-Nsutapong-Ohiamekyene road is to begin soon "A number of feeder roads are also under construction to open up the district. The construction and tarring of Sikabeng-Obawale as well as Somanya township roads are ongoing."

Vice President Mahama also said 1,000 fixed telephone lines would be made available to Somanya and its surrounding areas on completion of the telecommunications project next year. On education, he said, 6.5 billion cedis had since 2001 been disbursed under the District Assemblies Common Fund and HIPC Relief Fund, for the construction of school blocks in the Yilo Krobo District. He advised the people to utilize the facilities being provided by government judiciously to provide quality education for their children and to protect the investments in the area.

Vice President Mahama, however, cautioned: "Cases of wanton destruction of school properties that have been procured with the nation's scare resources would be dealt with swiftly and appropriately, within the law. No act of indiscipline would be condoned or tolerated." He urged school authorities, traditional rulers, parents and other stakeholders to ensure that children and the youth became disciplined.

Kpetekple Ologo said the Campaign for Greater Discipline, championed by the Vice President was in the right direction as indiscipline had permeated all spheres of the Ghanaian society.

The Paramount Chief noted that indiscipline and moral decadence had resulted in the high HIV/AIDS prevalence rate of about seven per cent in the area. He said the Traditional Council was working with the Ghana AIDS Commission and other stakeholders to reduce the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS and to eliminate the stigmatisation against those affected by the disease.

He called for support from the government and donor agencies to enable it to create job avenues for the youth, explaining that poverty often encouraged people to become promiscuous.

The Minister for Information, Nana Akomea, Mr Albert Kan Dapaah, Minister for Communications and Technology, were among the dignitaries who attended the festival.