ABOUT US

 

 

 

BRIEF HISTORY OF RADIO PROGRESS

 

INTRODUCTION

Radio Progress is a rural development -oriented Community Radio based in Wa in the Upper West Region. It is operated by a local based registered Company Limited by Guarantee known as Mass Media for Development (MMD).

The principal aim of the Mass Media for Development is using radio for promoting, mobilizing and empowering the communities for development.

MISSION

A Development Community Radio station which serves as a development catalyst for the Upper West Region through effective participatory programs focusing on the felt needs of all segments of the community.

VISION

 A Development Oriented Community Radio station which seeks the active participation of Community Members in the equitable and sustainable development of the Upper West Region.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The preparation for the opening of the Radio Station started in 1995 by a Belgium couple Bart & Ann and Brother Vincent Davies who were Missionaries working with the Department of Social Communication (DEPSOCOM) of the Catholic Diocese of Wa. By that time the Government had liberalized the allocation of radio frequencies. They applied to the Ghana Frequency Registration and Control Board now National Communication Authority (NCA) for a license to operate a radio station. The Ghana Frequency Allocation and Control Board wrote back to say that, Religious bodies were excluded from owning radio stations.

STRATEGY

The then Bishop of Wa Diocese, Most Reverend Paul Bemile sold the idea of opening the radio station to some prominent persons of the region who formed an NGO known as Mass Media for Development (MMD). The MMD applied for the license and frequency to start a Community radio station and it was granted (98.1fm) in April, 1996. It is important to state that at that time the only source of news and information for the region was through GBC Radio Ghana which was the preserve for only literates. The news papers for the day were delivered the following day through the State Transport Corporation (STC) bus.  This underscores the urgent need for the radio that can inform and educate the people of the Upper West Region in their own language. The first Board of Directors (BOD) for the MMD were:

• Peter Der (late)…………………. Chairman
• James B Dasah …………………..Vice Chairman
• Jacob Yir-erong (late) ……………Treasurer
• Lawrence Dakurah …………………..Secretary
• Celestina Bayor (late) ……………… Member
• Bishop Paul Bemile …………………. Member

 

ON AIR

On February 17, 1997, Radio Progress started broadcasting in a small area of about 6 kilometres due to the small capacity of the transmitter of 5Watts. It is pertinent to state that through the ingenuity of Bart & Ann and Brother Davies the 5 watts transmitter was donated by a Belgium based Catholic Organization, UNDA. In 1998, with the support from a Dutch Catholic Organization, BILANCE, a 500 watts transmitter was acquired and installed with a 35 metre tower. This increased the reception from the initial 6 kilometres to about 35 kilometres from Wa and subsequently a 2000watts (2kw) transmitter was acquired that transmits to a distance of about 100 kilometres radius. DEPSOCOM gave birth to Radio Progress and as such the first workers of the radio were staff of DEPSOCOM. They were; Lawrence Naaikuur who was the first Manager, then called Executive Producer, Vitus Nambigne and Benjamin Musah (late). The first volunteer presenters were: Susanna Atupri, Iddi Abdulai, Israel Zaghe, Doris Dery, Jerome Kpan and Bushirata Braimah.

PROGRAMMES

Radio Progress being a community radio station and indeed the first Community radio in Ghana, prioritized itself to the provision of vital information to help speed up the integral development of the people. Our programs are focused on health and sanitation, agriculture and environment, women and children, language and culture, civic education including human rights and gender issues, school education and religion and others. Radio progress is now a household name in the Wa municipality and those communities which receive its transmission. The station concerns itself with what the people are doing to find sustainable solutions to their problems, thus the radio is being used to promote participatory development of its catchment area. Currently its signal covers Wa Municipality, Wa West district, Nadowli-Kaleo district, parts of Wa East, parts of Daffiama-Bussie-Issa district and parts of Sawla-Tuna-Kalba district.

MANAGEMENT