Dokument #1119152
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Autor)
Inter Press Service (IPS) reported in July
1995 that the three FM radio stations already operating in the
country (one of which was state-owned Ghana Broadcasting
Corporation (GBC)) would be joined by six new broadcasters in
Accra, two in Sekondi-Takordi and one in Kumasi (26 July 1995). The
GBC reported earlier that five new stations were granted operating
licenses in Accra, bringing to ten the number of private radio
broadcasters licensed in the country (20 July 1995). Both IPS and
the GBC mention that the Independent Media Corporation of Ghana,
owner of Radio Eye, were among the companies granted a broadcasting
license (ibid.). West Africa reported that the five newly
licensed broadcasters would raise the number of FM stations in
Accra to seven (31 July-6 Aug. 1995, 1186).
IPS and the GBC report that the private
broadcasters must pay a non-refundable "commitment fee" within 60
days and begin to operate within six months (26 July 1995; 20 July
1995). IPS stated the fee was about $2 million, while the GBC
stated it was 20 million Cedis (ibid.). However, West Africa
later reported that the fee had been reduced by 50 per cent (4-10
Sept. 1995, 1386).
For additional information, please consult
the attachments.
According to The Guardian and the
Associated Press (AP), Radio Eye began broadcasting on 19 November
1994 (6 Feb. 1995; 6 Dec. 1994). The radio station is owned by the
Independent Media Corporation of Ghana, which is directed by Dr.
Charles Wereko Brobby (The Guardian 6 Feb. 1995; West
Africa 12-18 Dec. 1994, 2124). The New York Times
corroborated the fact that Brobby is behind Radio Eye, but it
reported that the station went on air in "early December" (26 Dec.
1994).
AP reported on 6 December 1994 that Radio
Eye was closed down, its broadcasting equipment, and seized its
founder, Wereko Brobby, and five others jailed for "unauthorized"
broadcasting. Several other sources corroborated the fact that
Radio Eye was closed down and its equipment seized in December 1994
(The Guardian 6 Feb. 1995; West Africa 19-25 Dec.
1994, 2164; NYT 26 Dec. 1994).
Following the closure of Radio Eye,
Deutsche Presse-Agentur and West Africa reported that a
clash occurred between Radio Eye supporters and an armed group of
"counter demonstrators" (13 Dec. 1994; 26 Dec. 1994-8 Jan. 1995,
2207). Both sources also reported that Brobby had initiated court
action over the closure of Radio Eye and the seizing of its
equipment (ibid.).
Wereko Brobby has been variously described
as "an opposition activist" and "a leader in the opposition New
Patriotic Party" (AP 6 Dec. 1994); "a businessman and journalistic
gadfly" and "a leading member of the National People's Party"
(NYT 26 Dec 1994); a "businessman, acerbic columnist for the
privately owned Chronicle newspaper and leading member of
the opposition New Patriotic Party (The Guardian 6 Feb.
1995). West Africa credits Brobby with aiding the creation
of the Alliance for Change which organized anti-VAT demonstrations
against the government (21-27 Aug. 1995, 1320).
For additional information on Radio Eye,
please consult the attachments under the heading "Radio Eye." For
general information on private broadcasting in Ghana, please
consult the attachment from Africa Report.
This Response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does
not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular
claim to refugee status or asylum.
The Associated Press (AP). 6 December
1994. "Police Raid Radio Station." (NEXIS)
Deutsche Presse-Agentur. 13 December
1994. BC Cycle. "Three Injured as Rival Demonstrators Clash Over
Closure of Radio." (NEXIS)
The Guardian [London]. 6 February
1995. David Pallister. "Ghana: Fights Rap and Reggae War."
(NEXIS)
GBC Radio [Accra, in English]. 20 July
1995. "Thirty-one Companies Authorized to Operate Private Radio and
TV." (BBC Summary 25 July 1995/NEXIS)
Inter Press Service (IPS). 26 July 1995.
Frank Agyekum. "Ghana-Media: Independent Broadcasting at Last."
(NEXIS)
The New York Times. 26 December
1994. Late Edition - Final. Howard W. French. "Ghana Acts Against
Broadcaster, Showing Fear of Free Media." (NEXIS)
West Africa [London]. 4-10
September 1995. "Ghana: Radio Fees Reduced."
_____. 21-27 August 1995. Vicky
Yeboah-Afari. "Ghana: The Media and the Fourth Republic."
_____. 31 July-6 August 1995. "Ghana:
Broadcast Licenses."
_____. 26 December-8 January 1995.
"Ghana: Clashes Over Radio Ban."
_____. 19-25 December 1994. "Ghana:
Radio Caught in Eye of the Storm."
_____. 12-18 December 1994. "Ghana: GBC
Radio Monopoly Ends."
Africa Report [New York].
May-June 1994. Vol. 40, No. 3. Daniel J. Sharfstein. "Radio Free
Ghana," pp. 46-48.
GBC Radio [Accra, in English]. 20 July
1995. "Thirty-one Companies Authorized to Operate Private Radio and
TV." (BBC Summary 25 July 1995/NEXIS)
Inter Press Service (IPS). 26 July 1995.
Frank Agyekum. "Ghana-Media: Independent Broadcasting at Last."
(NEXIS)
West Africa [London]. 21-27
August 1995. Vicky Yeboah-Afari. "Ghana: The Media and the Fourth
Republic," p. 1320.
_____. 7-13 August 1995. "Ghana:
Broadcasting Fee Row," p. 1226.
Africa Research Bulletin: Political,
Social and Cultural Series [Oxford]. 23 March 1995. Vol. 32,
No. 2. "Media: Private Radio Troubles in Ghana," pp. 11768-69.
Agence France Presse (AFP). 21 December
1994. "Radio Eye Loses Bid to Return to Airwaves." (NEXIS)
The Associated Press (AP). 6 December
1994. "Police Raid Radio Station." (NEXIS)
Deutsche Presse-Agentur. 13 December
1994. BC Cycle. "Three Injured as Rival Demonstrators Clash Over
Closure of Radio." (NEXIS)
GBC Radio [Accra, in English]. 20
December 1994. "Ghana; Court Orders Return of Seized Radio Eye
Equipment." (BBC Summary 22 Dec. 1994/NEXIS)
_____. 7 December 1994. "British
Nationals Arrested in Connection with Radio Eye." (BBC Summary 9
Dec. 1994/NEXIS)
_____. 6 December 1994. "Equipment of
Radio Eye Seized." (BBC Summary 8 Dec. 1994/NEXIS)
The Guardian [London]. 6 February
1995. David Pallister. "Ghana: Fights Rap and Reggae War."
(NEXIS)
The New York Times. 26 December
1994. Late Edition - Final. Howard W. French. "Ghana Acts Against
Broadcaster, Showing Fear of Free Media." (NEXIS)
West Africa [London]. 23-29
January 1995. "Ghana: Supreme Court to Hear Radio Case," p.
108.
_____. 9-15 January 1995. "Ghana: Radio
Saga Continues," p. 30.
_____. 26 December-8 January 1995.
"Ghana: Clashes Over Radio Ban," p. 2207.
_____. 19-25 December 1994. "Ghana:
Radio Caught in Eye of the Storm," p. 2164.
_____. 12-18 December 1994. "Ghana: GBC
Radio Monopoly Ends," p. 2124.