GBC to lease frequencies

The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) has a number of radio and television frequencies which it intends to lease on joint business basis to private companies.

Accordingly, the corporation is currently considering a local private company for a television frequency, Mr John Abraham Larkai, Solicitor Secretary of the GBC told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra.

The interview followed a news conference in Accra at which the management of Independent Media Corporation (IMCG) challenged the legality of GBC's agreement with a private company Multimedia Ghana Limited to operate a private FM station "Joy FM" on 99.7 Mhz one of GBC's radio frequencies.

Mr Larkai explained that by NLCD 226 GBC's instrument of incorporation does not bar the corporation from doing business.

He said apart from radio and television frequencies GBC has other facilities such as transmission sites rediffusion stations and technical services which it is prepared to shared with interested parties.

"We are not saying that we have the right to allocate frequencies but we have some facilities we are prepared to share rather the Frequency Board for frequencies." Mr Larkai said people were either confused or not getting the right information on where to go.

He said GBC's frequency business with private companies does not in any way undermine the right or duties of the Frequency Board.

When contacted Mr Kojo Yankah, Deputy Minister of Information, told the Ghana News Agency on telephone that his ministry would not interfere in the business activities of the media. - GNA