LAUNCHING OF GBC URA RADIO @ 25 ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

Draft Document for the Regional Minister/ Deputy

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 3^rd 1986, GBC URA Radio was officially commissioned by the then Chairman of the Provisional National Defence Council (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 1^st 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 became the official mouthpiece of the people and because it was the premier station established to serve almost the three regions of the north due to its wide coverage. Interestingly, the relay radio transmission was dropped and wireless sets were bought by URADEP and sold to farmers and people of the Upper Region.

With a wide range of programmes and news items, URA Radio over the years has chalked tremendous successes. Currently GBC URA Radio is the only FM station in the country that transmits with six local languages alongside news from the national studios. One can confidently say that because of our success story, numerous FM stations have come to existence. The station since 2008 has trained some interested youth and graduates in the region on basic radio broadcast and is considering introducing such training programmes when the need arises. The aim is to ensure sanity and good presentation on our airwaves. It is our hope and expectation that the station will continue its good works as pioneers in FM radio business to bring about peace and development of our region and the nation as a whole.  

Undoubtedly, the station cannot boast of its achievement without putting to the fore our challenges. We will therefore take the opportunity to catalogue some challenges faced by the station. These are as follows;

• No standby generator to supply power to the station when there is power outage.
• Inadequate staff (especially, programme section)
• Inadequate staff accommodation
• Fence wall
• Inadequate operational equipment (esp. computers, air conditioners, and office furniture)

NB: URA Radio will be celebrating its silver jubilee on February, 18, 2012 on the theme: URA RADIO @ 25: Tool for Promoting Peace and Development.  A host of activities have 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.

………………………………

Isaac Asare

(Secretary Anniversary Planning Committee)