Deutsche Welle donates to Radio Progress

Wa, Sept. 20, GNA - The German government is assisting the Ghana government with 90 million Deutsche Marks for development projects in the country. Part of the amount would be given to small-scale enterprises as loans through the National Board for Small-Scale Industries.

Mr Christian Nakonz, German Ambassador in Ghana, announced this on Monday in Wa when he commissioned a 20 million cedi equipment donated by Radio Deutsche Welle to Radio Progress, a local FM station. The equipment includes a satellite dish, a decoder and accessories.

Mr Nakonz said another 38 million Deutsche Marks would be given for the rehabilitation and renovation of 38 teacher training colleges in the country.

Radio Progress, which was started two years ago by Mass Media for Development, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in the Upper West Region, now broadcasts programmes for Radio Deutsche Welle.

The Ambassador said a 30-member delegation from Germany would be in Ghana next month to seek partnership with Ghanaian business organisations.

He commended the government for liberalising the media in the country which, he said, "is very healthy for the socio-economic development of the country." Mr David Osei-Wusu, Regional Minister, said the government would create an "enabling ground" for investors.

He advised the management of Radio Progress to broadcast news from the region to enable listeners to have an idea of what is happening around them.

Mr Osei-Wusu called for the building of programmes that would stand the test of time. Mr Peter Der, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Station, thanked Radio Deutsche Welle for its support towards the development of the station.

He said, even though, it has financial and coverage problems, efforts were being made to acquire a five-kilowatt transmitter to cover the whole region. Mr Der called on churches, religious bodies and NGOs to assist the station with equipment.