The Country Director for Farm Radio International, Mr. Benjamin Fiafor has acknowledged the contribution of radio to the development of Ghana along five social structures namely; economics, politics or governance, religion, health or medical systems and education.
According to him, through the efforts of radio, people living in the rural or deprived areas with limited social amenities have access and opportunities to get information and also share their views.
Mr. Fiafor speaking to Rite Morning Ride on the World Radio Day stated, “Radio as medium of relaying information has promoted gender equality in the country making women have equal power with men rather than seeing them as vulnerable in society.
The Country Director emphasized that, radio has contributed a lot to the success of the agriculture (economics) sector especially in fighting for food safety and its security in Ghana and the world, also making farmers use the medium to send information especially when there is unknown invasion like the recent Fall Army Worm, (FAW).
Mr. Benjamin while acknowledging the impact of radio however bemoaned its negative sides including the dissemination of false information that can lead to chaos.
“Radio is a very powerful tool and people use it as a medium to use abusive words which is not the best,” he said.
In governance, radio has drawn the people closer to the central government and other governmental departments to either criticize or channel their grievances, he said.
According to Mr. Benjamin Fiafor, radio directs the activities of government, stakeholders and all concerned individuals in the country and thereby putting them on their right path and responsive to concerns of the citizens, adding: “radio is indeed a powerful tool to inform, educate and entertain.”
World Radio Day is an observance day held annually on 13 February. World Radio Day is about celebrating radio, why we love it and why we need it today more than ever. A day to remember the unique power of radio to touch lives and bring people together across every corner of the globe.
It was proclaimed on 3 November 2011 by UNESCO’s 36th General Conference after originally being proposed by the Kingdom of Spain.
World Radio Day 2018 was celebrated on 13 February 2018 around the theme of “Radio and Sports”. As we look forward to a year of momentous sporting events that have the ability to unite the hearts and minds of people everywhere.
World Radio Day 2018 will celebrate the traditional sports that connect us to our cultural heritage, the grassroots sports that anchor us within our communities, and the inspiring stories that challenge gender stereotypes and provide positive role models for young people around the world.
The theme for 2018 is all about the alliance of sport and radio as a force for civic participation and development as well as for celebrating humanity in its diversity.
World Radio day 2018 will celebrate radio’s critical function in shaping this alliance, by providing a platform for radio stations, and listeners alike, to construct their programs and conversations around Radio and Sports.
Source: Joyce Bedeley/ritefmonline.org/jbedeley9357@gmail.com
