Accra, Feb. 13, GNA - The Farm Radio International (FRI) has joined the international community to celebrate “World Radio Day” to strengthen diversity, peace and development through radio broadcasting.
The theme of this year’s event, ‘Dialogue, Tolerance, and Peace’, is expected to raise greater awareness among the public and the media on the importance of radio, to encourage decision makers to establish and provide access to information through radio as well as to enhance networking and international cooperation among broadcasters.
A statement copied to the Ghana News Agency and signed by Mr Benjamin Fiafor, the Country Director of Farm Radio International explained that World Radio Day was founded by UNESCO in 2012 to celebrate radio as a medium to improve international cooperation between broadcasters and promote freedom of expression, access to information and gender equality.
It said Farm Radio would host an open forum and workshop in Tamale as part of the celebration and organise an open forum and workshop in Tamale for radio stations and stakeholders in Ghana, who use radio as a tool for dialogue, tolerance and peace.
It explained that radio station presenters and producers would participate in the workshop, which would focus on the use of interactive communication tools for responsible discussion on radio.
Farm Radio, according to the statement, calls on the Ghana Journalists Association and the National Media Commission to strengthen their ability to monitor and sanction radio stations that broadcast hate speech before, during and after the upcoming 2020 general elections.
It emphasised that radio, had played an important role in the long-awaited settlement of the Dagbon chieftaincy conflict and would continue to serve as an important platform for discussion to ensure lasting peace in the Northern Region.
The statement said the resolution of such conflict was important for the successful implementation of radio stations development plans in the Northern Region and had a great responsibility of serving communities.
It advised radio station owners to ensure regular training for their staff to improve their ability to use radio as a tool for development.
It asked radio station owners to fairly compensate staff as a form of motivation to enable them to produce accurate and unbiased programming.
“Farm radio is encouraging radio stations across the country to celebrate World Radio Day, as part of their regular programming,” the statement noted.
“We invite them to lead discussions on the theme of ‘Dialogue, Tolerance and Peace’. We also call upon the public to recognise the power of radio as a tool to foster peaceful and tolerant discussion to contribute towards the development of our beloved country,’ it added.
GNA
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