Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) have sworn new executive officers into office.
The new team led by the General Manager of ETV, Akwasi Agyeman will run the organization for the next three years.
The new leaders who were elected at the organization’s Annual General Meeting held in Kumasi were sworn into office on Thursday at the Coconut Groove Hotel.
The swearing-in ceremony which took place in Accra saw the Managing Director of Citi FM, Samuel Atta-Mensah being sworn in as vice-president.
Sunny FM’s Steven Eshun, George Baffoe of Kantinka FM and Kessben Fm’s Andrew Aninkorah took their oaths of office as executive members.
Kabral Blay Amihere the Chairman of the National Media commission who chaired the occasion charged the new leaders to continue the good deeds of their predecessors.
He commended GIBA for “taking steps to regulate its members” by ensuring that they lived by its code of Conduct.
He was also convinced the new executives will be up to the task as the nation prepares to migrate onto the digital broadcasting phase.
In his inaugural speech the new president of GIBA, Akwasi Agyeman promised to provide leadership in the face of the myriad challenges the association is confronted with.
Mr. Agyeman mentioned “the difficulties with Digital migration, the problems of the broadcasting bill, advertisers who don’t pay on time” as some of the daunting problems of the industry.
He was however, quick to add that with the new council he is confident they will be able to navigate these troubles and excel.
Akwasi Agyeman also outlined some of the things he says will be top on the agenda for his administration.
“There are a few things I believe we need to do; one of them is how we can work closely with the National Communications Authority on the matter of the digital migration, a lot of broadcasters are worried because they don’t know the direction of the digital migration.”
In his concluding remarks the GIBA President asked the members of GIBA to set a new agenda of peace and Unity for the country.
“It is time for us as independent broadcasters to help set a Ghanaian agenda where we see ourselves as one and united, many a times when you tune to Radio Stations or watch TV you get the feeling of a country that is almost torn apart. These are the things that together with the support of the new executive council and everyone we can change” he intimated.
The occasion was also used to swear the National council of GIBA into office.
The council which is made up of former Presidents of the Association is comprised of founding father of GIBA; Alhaji Abdul Rashid, Mr. Fred Oware a former Director of Choice FM, Mr. Kwesi Twum the Chief Executive officer of Multimedia Ghana and a former deputy director of Metropolitan Television, Alhaji Alhassan Haruna.
By: Raymond Acquah/citifmonline.com/Ghana