PUBLIC EDUCATION
CAMPAIGN
ON 2013 BUDJECT
STATEMENT - VOLTA REGION
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| GBC VOLTA REGIONAL STUDIO |
1.
INTRODUCTION
As
a follow-up to collaborative workshops organised on the 2013 Budget Statement
by the Ministry of Finance and the Information Services Department (ISD) for Regional
and District Information Officers in Accra for the southern zone and in Kumasi
for the northern zone, all Deputy Directors were assigned to specific regions
to monitor the Radio Discussion Programmes as well as the Limited Cinema
Operations where necessary.
2.
RADIO/FM DISCUSSION SCHEDULES IN
THE VOLTA REGION
In
Volta Region, Mr. Wellington Gidisu the Regional Information Officer drew up a
comprehensive Radio/FM Discussion programmes covering eight (8) most prominent
radio stations in the Region where air time were paid for the public education
purposes.
The
FM Radio stations included 1. Volta Star –GBC – 91.1.FM Ho; 2.Tongu Radio 92.1
FM Sogakope; 3. Kakeo Radio 107.3 FM Akatsi; 4. Holy FM 98.5 FM Aflao; 5.Hogbe
FM 106.5 FM Anloga; 6.Lorlornyo FM 93.3 FM Hohoe; 7. Heritage FM 107.3 FM Hohoe
and Beyond FM 90.7 FM Nkwata.
All
radio discussion programmes were undertaken by a three-member panelists headed
by the Municipal and District Officers constituted by the Regional Information
Officer. Where possible phone-in-segments were introduced to allow listeners to
ask questions or make contributions to the programme. But experience has shown
that due to some technical hitches phone-in-segments could not be effected.
LIMITED CENEMA
OPERATION
Krachi-District
was the only remote area where Limited Cinema Operation was organised for the
public education campaign on 2013 budget. Audience research proved that FM
coverage in this District would not be effective thus the need to deploy the
ISD Cinema Vans for effective campaign in the language of the people at the
grassroots level.
Some
of the towns and villages covered by the Cinema Operation included Tancu,
Yaborap, Gyaesayor, Kpacsu and Yyne Krom.
3.
VOLTA STAR RADIO PROGRAMME
3.1 DAY ONE:
On
Friday, May 24 2013, between the hours of 8am- 8:30 in the morning, under the
supervision of the Regional Information Officer, Mr. Willingtong Gidisu, the Ho
Municipal Information Officer Mr. Steven Dzubi and the South Dayi District
Information Officer, Mr. Dominic Boachie participated in the Volta Star Radio
programme.
Following
the briefing and guide prepared for ISD staff by the Ministry of Finance,
listeners were informed that the 2013
Budget Statement which was presented to Parliament on Tuesday, 5th
March 2013 by the Hon. Minister for Finance Mr. Set Tekper. That the theme for
this year’s Budget Statement was: “Sustaining
Confidence In The Future of the Ghanaian Economy.”
3.2 Four Thematic
Areas of the Budget
The
panelists explained to the listeners that the 2013 Budget Statement covered
four thematic areas underpinning the Nation’s development programme which were:
1. People First
2. Strong and Resilient Economy
3. Expanding Infrastructure and
4. Transparent and Accountable
Governance
On
that day, because the time allotted was 30mn, panelists concentrated on PILLAR
ONE for maximum impact. It was explained that Government believed that human
capital or the people constituted the nation’s most treasured asset. That it
was the people that form the fulcrum or pivot around which revolved
Government’s socio-cultural and economic development agenda.
That
in the Pillar One of the 2013 Budget Statement, Government accords priority premium on education, health care, social
security as well as the protection for the vulnerable women, children, the
aged, and the people with disabilities.
The
main programme under which the discussion took place was “Good morning Volta in
Ewe.”
The
host of the programme was Torgbe Kodzo Akwensi. The host introduced some humour
into the programme which made everybody in the studio and many listeners; it
was believed, burst into uncontrollable laughter.
The
joke was that before the programme took off, the host introduced his panelists
and mentioned on air that one Deputy Director of ISD had traveled all the way
from the headquarters in Accra to monitor how the radio public education
campaign was being conducted in the Region. Then he mentioned my name –
Mawutodzi Abissath.
I
was not billed to speak though, however, when he was about to sign off the
programme, the host suddenly pushed the microphone towards me and prompted me
to say something to the people of the Volta Region. Because I was not aware
that I was going to speak and the fact that programme was being aired in Ewe, I started struggling for appropriate Ewe
vocabulary for economic terms like ‘Pillar One” ‘Resilient Economy” “Expanding
Infrastructure” and “Accountable Governance” etc. And this made everybody burst into laughter
including myself. It was very interesting indeed, as a virtually dried
programme ended on a very pleasant humorous note.
3.4 DAY TWO
On
Saturday, May 25 2013 the public education continued on Volta Star Radio GBC 91.1FM
from 9:05 am and last for about one hour. This time round the panel was further
enriched by the presence of the Member of Parliament for Ho Central
Constituency Hon. Benjamin Kpodo. He was, as usual supported by Ho Municipal Information Officer Mr. Dzubi
and the South Dayi DIO Mr. Boachie. The veteran Kwami Senyo, Head of Ewe
Section of the Volt Star Radio hosted the programme.
3.5. Overview of the Budge
The
host Mr. Senyo set the ball rolling by tasking the MP Hon. Kpodo to give listeners
a global over view of the 2013 Budget. Hon. Kpodo, who is an account by training,
did justice to the subject matter. He enlightened the public about how the
Budget was presented by the Finance Minister to Parliament and the MPs
scrutinized and dissected the budget statement through heated debates on the
floor the House.
3.6 Pillar Two: A
Strong and Resilient Economy
The
panelists focused on the economy of the country over the period of more
than two decades. The public was informed that Ghana consistently witnessed a
positive economic growth rate which culminated in the attainment of lower
middle income status. It was further underscored that the country equally
maintained its ranking among ten (10) fastest growing economies in the world.
Various
elements of the national economy such as “macro-economic stability,” in that
inflation moved from double digits to single digit and remained there for over
30 months. Another point was made that the country’s foreign reserves had been
increased from about $2billion at the beginning of 2009 to $5.5billion
currently.
In
terms of the performance of the economy in 2012, it was explained to listeners
that the budget for that fiscal year indicated that total revenue and grants
were below the budget target. This meant that the country experienced ‘an
overall fiscal deficit equivalent to 12.0 percent of GDP against a target
equivalent to 6.7 percent of GDP.’
Nevertheless,
it was also indicated that the economy recorded 8.8% in 2012 and continued with
single digit inflation for more than two years.
In
short, the day’s radio discussion spearheaded by Hon. Kpodo digested the budget
to the people of the Volta Region through the Good-morning Volta
programme in Ewe in a most comprehensive fashion. My only regret was that,
again, due to technical hitches, phone-in-segment initiated by the host could
not go through. As much as some listeners tried to phone in, their calls could
not go through.
COMMENT
It
is my considered view that this innovative way of using the numerous FM and
Community Radio stations platform by RIOs, MIOs and DIOs in various regions and
districts to embark on public education campaigns on
Annual Budget Statements is progressive and cost effective. Its outreach in
terms of mass communication strategy for the dissemination of government
information to a large audiences at ago cannot be over-emphasized.
However,
the radio discussion programmes should not entirely replace the traditional ISD
Cinema Van operations in deprived rural communities. For it is an open secret
that some people in rural zones cannot even afford to buy radio or television
sets to tune in to vital national discussion programmes. But these deprived
rural dwellers also have the right to be
informed about Government programmes and policies.
SUGGESTIONS:
1. The Ministry of Finance must
consider making enough funds available to ISD that can cater for both
methodologies and strategies, that is, Radio discussions and Cinema Van
Operations platforms for public education campaigns must go hand in hand. This
will enable Government to receive comprehensive feedback from all manner of citizens
on all issues of national interest at the same time.
2. One reason why listeners of Volta
Star Radio could not interact with studio panelists was due to obsolete equipment
which being used in their studios. And since GBC Regional Radio stations have wider
coverage, it is suggested that Government must consider providing with modern equipment
to play effective public service broadcasting role for the benefit of the
nation.
The
two-day Radio Discussion Programme was conducted under the supervision of Mr.
Kafui Kumaga who is the Manager Volta Star Radio at Ho in the Volta Region.
Presented by:
MAWUTODZI
KODZO ABISSATH
DEPUTY
DIRECTOR, IT
DATE:
28TH MAY 2013
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| GBC VOLTA REGIONAL STUDIO |
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| Mr. Willingtong Gidisu, Regional Information Officer (third from right) and team members prepare to go on air |
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| Torgbe Kodzo Akwensi host of Good-morning Volta in Ewe ready in the studio on May 24, 2013 |
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| Mr. Steven Dzubi Ho Municipal Information Officer a panelist on the programme in the studio |
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| Mr. Dominic Boachie South Dayi Information Officer also a panelist in the programme in the studio |
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| Mr. Kafui Kumaga Manager of Radio Volta Star, Ho |
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| Hon. Benjamin Kpodo in suit, MP for Ho Central being welcome by Regional Information Officers at the premises of Volta Star to participate in the programme on Saturday, May 25, 2013 |
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| Mr. Kwami Senyo, veteran broadcaster and Head of Ewe Section at the Volta Star hosting the programme on May 25 |
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| Hon. Kpodo making reference to facts and figures in his presentation to the programme in the studio |
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| Mr. Dzubi and Mr Boachie contributing to discussion in the studio on May 25
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