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.

References

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."

Attachments

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.

"Radio Eye"

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.