10th Anniversary of Jubilee Radio – Dumega Raymond K. Okudzeto

Distinguished invited guests, our hard working friends and partners in development from the media, ladies and gentlemen; it gives me a lot of pleasure to be with you today to celebrate a very memorable occasion and a worthy course, such as the 10th Anniversary of Jubilee Radio, the first private radio station in the Volta Region.

First and foremost, permit me to congratulate the management and staff, the founding members, Board of Directors, the listening public and friends of Jubilee Radio, on the occasion of its 10th anniversary celebration. For those of us who have been around and saw the genesis of this journey, its development challenges, its successes and failures the past ten years, we can only smile at the storm and say, thank God for bringing Jubilee Radio, thus far.

The development of a community, a district or a country, has many facets but the center or its fulcrum around which all efforts evolve, is the PEOPLE. Therefore any development effort that does not have the wellbeing of the people or the interest of the community as its center-piece is an exercise in futility. For example, the education, health, the economy, water and sanitation, the infrastructure, food, clothing and shelter, are all meaningless unless it is about the center – The People.

We can therefore say with certainty that for all the above to happen, the people at the center must be aware and be involved to achieve a good measure of success. That is, why in the days of old, the Gongon and the town crier (gongon beater) were a very important part of the traditional administration. It made it possible for the Chief and his Elders to mobilize their subjects either for a meeting, communal labour or as a tool for information dissemination. In those days also, our settlements were fewer and smaller and close-by.

However, in today’s world, even though the role of the town crier is still relevant in hamlets, villages and even in some towns, it has its severe limitations and therefore has to give way to a more advanced form of information dissemination, which is faster, economical, and spot on. In this era of Information Technology; where information is considered, ‘dead’, in a matter of minutes, Breaking News is the order of the day – that is, as it happens.

The Information Technology era has therefore given birth to modern tools and gadgets to aid information dissemination and as a result, made our world a global village. Among these powerful tools are Newspapers, Radio and television, internet and telecommunication gadgets such as mobile phones. In fact, some of these tools are currently being relegated into the background as more sophisticated ones are being developed.

It is in the light of the above that we celebrate the birth of Jubilee Radio in our communities the past ten years. It is also instructive to know that as part of its 10th anniversary celebration, Jubilee Radio is launching an Anniversary Magazine. A magazine in which I believe it will highlight its activities for the past ten years. I will therefore not attempt to recount the role of Jubilee Radio in our communities.

However, I will not be fair in my submission if I fail to mention a few of such wonderful collaborative efforts between Jubilee Radio and its development partners.

The birth of Jubilee Radio, has brought our communities closer than ever before.

• It has created several direct and indirect jobs through job advertisements
• It has assisted our farmers and fishermen monitor the weather and climatic conditions and brought home new opportunities
• It has used its airwaves to initiate public debates about local and national issues of interest
• It has also assisted the District/Municipal Assemblies in its catchment area to inform and education the communities about government programmes/plans and intentions for the development of the communities
• Traditional Authorities have also engaged more with their subjects through information dissemination.
• Health information dissemination and sanitation matters were sufficiently aired; health alerts such as cholera, ebola, regular hand washing, eating warm food, etc etc.
• Educational institutions were not left out in many of their outreach programmes
• Propagation of information on Festivals and festive occasions were a regular feature
• Politicians were not left out. They used the Jubilee platform to reach their supports always.
• Social and funeral announcements are also a regular feature on air
• Innovative cultural pieces – speaking ewe correctly and our folkloric expose are not left out

Social Engagement – As a tool for the promotion of the total wellbeing of the communities and the people, the station succeeded in creating one big platform where it engages the citizens in an interactive manner (including call-ins) to discuss social issues.

Jubilee has also created a town-hall within their premises where they engage the community in face-to-face interactions, discussions and debate issues. This town-hall idea is a novelty that I must encourage Jubilee Radio to continue and improve upon as part of their social responsibility to the community.

Collaboration with Volta Foundation – Permit me at this juncture, to appreciate Jubilee Radio for a wonderful collaborative effort with the Volta Foundation and similar organizations trying hard to bring development into our region and communities.

We recall the promotion of the Volta Trade Fair in 2009 and 2010, where Jubilee gave an extensive publicity to the Fair, before, during and after to discuss the opportunities in the Anlo area and the Volta region as a whole. You also sent reporters to the Fair grounds in Ho to report live programmes to promote the Fair as it was on-going. We thank you for the support and urge you to use your airwaves to do more in attracting investment into our dear Region.

The Keta Harbour Project – We also recall all the discussions, constructive and otherwise that went to enrich the debate on the Keta harbour project. Even though there are challenges along the way, we believe your contribution by way of information dissemination, brought the issue forcefully home to all Voltarians with much insight which has contributed in no small way, in sharpening the minds of our people to the gargantuan benefits this single project was likely to delivered to them and transform their lives and that of their families. We continue to receive messages of encouragement from Voltarians never to give up until the Volta Region is transformed where hamlets become towns, towns becoming modern cities with job opportunities, decent incomes, decent accommodation and other social amenities.

To the citizens – Whilst we congratulation Jubilee for all the good things the station is doing to develop the communities, we must spare a thought to reflect on the challenges they go through on daily basis to provide us with accurate Information, wholesome Education and quality Entertainment.

Setting up a Radio Station is expensive, maintaining the equipment and ensuring its functionality on daily basis is a tall order. Recruiting and maintaining experienced staff and programme officers, news editors are expensive. The environment has become so vibrant; a little perk from a competitor can destabilize your station overnight – poach your critical staff. Scouting for competent research officers is a huge effort. Field work to gather accurate data for processing for public consumption is an arduous task. Resources such as motorbikes, field vehicles robust enough to withstand the terrain are expensive. Above all, generating sufficient revenue to maintain staff and equipment and for expansion is a big challenge for ownership, especially for privately owned community Radio Stations without mega companies and profit making institutions, floating adverts on regular basis.

It is in the light of the above that I launch this appeal.

Community radio is good, private ownership is good because it brings out the best in everybody for the benefit of the community. It is dedicated to the welfare and growth of the community. It aims at eliminating ignorance, poverty, disease, squalor, delinquency, illiteracy among other social vices.

The question is; what can the community do, to support the efforts of community radios like Jubilee Radio. Can we imagine our community today without Jubilee Radio? What do we expect of Jubilee Radio in another ten years? Perhaps we may be looking forward to Jubilee TV and more.

I will therefore passionately appeal to the entire community to patronize effectively all programmes of Jubilee Radio, be it phone-in, interactive, face-to-face town-hall attendance, constructive suggestions for quality programming, contribution of authentic literature and accurate historical facts and volunteering time to discuss programmes on air to enhance Information dissemination, education and entertainment.

We can also assist substantially by advertising on air all our programmes; be it church, social, enterprises, educational, health and business opportunities and paying promptly to enable the station raise sufficient revenue to finance its programmes. We must also endeavour to invite Jubilee Radio to cover our events, be it marriages, funerals and many other occasions as a way of sponsoring the growth of our most enterprising Community Radio Station.

I also wish to appeal to benevolent individuals, societies and organizations , entrepreneurs, businesses to continue to support the growth of Jubilee Radio so that in another ten (10) years we can gather again and say we were part of our community radio’s development and growth. ‘Ame nutor ye yorna efe akple koe be akple kor’

Jubilee Radio must also organize very innovative programmes and events on quarterly basis that would impact greatly on the development of the community and sponsorship would be much more forthcoming.

To conclude, I wish to once again congratulate Jubilee Radio for a well deserving 10^th Anniversary celebrations. You were a trailblazer; you stand tall among your peers in spite of the challenging environment full of constraints.

May the Good Lord grant you more wisdom, energy and foresight to continue to flourish into greater heights and sooner that later own your own Media house (premises) – The Jubilee Heights.

I thank you all for your attention and may God Richly Bless Us All.

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