17-020-2010
Narration: GBC URA Radio Bolgatanga, one of the premier fm stations in the West African sub-region is set to celebrate its 25 years in existence. As part of activities marking the day which falls on tomorrow Saturday, February 18, a float through the principal street of Bolgatanga will be held to herald the launch of the anniversary. A host of activities have also been lined up to climax the anniversary, some of which include out station broadcast, educative and development talks, open day, sports as well as entertainment among other interesting programmes. Dignitaries including the Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo and the Council of State Member for the region, Rev Bishop Jacob Kofi Ayeebo and a host of others are expected to participate in the launch. The day will be celebrated on the theme: URA Radio @ 25: Tool for Promoting Peace and Development. Correspondent Isaac Asare has the details for Radio Ghana.
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URA Radio originated from a World Bank sponsored project known as the Upper Region Agricultural Development Programme, URADEP. The programme was aimed at improving food security of the Upper Regions (now Upper East and Upper West Regions). Realizing that the use of radio could be helpful in the promotion of agriculture in the then upper regions, URADEP initiated moves to provide information to the people of the region especially farmers. In view of this laudable initiative, URADEP established a training centre for the training of all types of agriculture staff. It was known as the Institute of Field Communication and Agricultural Training (IFCAT) at Navrongo where agricultural extension staff were trained; likewise visual communication and radio training sectors. URADEP therefore researched and selected major languages spoken in the then Upper Region and recruited personnel and trained them at IFCAT, now University of Development Studies, UDS. The languages chosen that time for the Radio Training were Gurune, Dagare, Kusal and Kasem. Somewhere along the line Sisala and Buli were added for the training at IFCAT. The training programme which began in 1982 saw some personnel receiving radio training in Holland, whilst the rest were trained at the centre. Some training officers also came from Holland to offer training at IFCAT. The Broadcasting Studios and transmitters at Bolga built by URADEP, were equipped and handed over to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) after long and fruitful negotiation. On December 3rd 1986, GBC URA Radio was officially commissioned by the then Chairman of the (PNDC) Flt Lt. J.J Rawlings. This was after management of GBC, URADEP and the government of Ghana, had finalized their negotiation for the station to operate as the 1st Regional FM station in the country. Three local languages after the commissioning, namely Gurune, Kusaal and Dagaare started broadcasting alongside the English language. Later in 1988, Kasem and Sissali joined and later Buli came in. When government completed the radio structure in Wa, Staff for the Dagaare and Sissala languages moved to Wa to form Radio Upper West, whilst Bissa joined URA Radio in 2002. URA Radio then became the official mouthpiece of the people. With a wide range of programmes and news items, URA Radio over the years has chalked tremendous successes. Speaking to Radio Ghana, the Director of GBC URA Radio, Tahiru Abdul Razak Mohammed said the station is the only FM station in the country that transmits with six local languages alongside news from the national studios. He observed that GBC URA Radio has contributed in changing the lives of the people in the region, particularly farmers and further stated that the station is poised to contribute immensely to the social standard of the people through reliable and adequate information sharing. he said the station is going to fashion out new and innovative programmes to improve their listenership. Mr Tahiru Abdul Razak Mohammed however entreated all to participate in the station’s 25 years of success.
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