The Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) has renewed calls for progress on Ghana’s long-delayed Broadcasting Bill, saying the legislation could help address longstanding concerns about promoting and broadcasting locally produced music and film.
MUSIGA President Bice Osei Kuffour has urged Ghana’s Ministry of Communication to revisit proposals submitted last year by MUSIGA, the Film Producers Association of Ghana (FIPAG) and the Ghana Actors Guild (GAG).
The proposals cover several issues affecting Ghana’s creative and broadcasting industries, including the balance between local and foreign content on the country’s airwaves.
Kuffour said the amount of foreign and Ghanaian content being broadcast remains a major concern for the union. He believes clearer local-content requirements would serve Ghana’s national interest and create greater opportunities for local creators.
For Ghanaian musicians and other creative professionals, increased exposure on radio and television can help artists build audiences, generate income and compete in an increasingly international media market.
The push for a comprehensive broadcasting law is not new. Calls for legislation have continued for more than a decade, as broadcasting has evolved alongside the growth of digital platforms, internet services and social media.
In 2014, the need for a new broadcasting framework was raised during discussions on broadcast pluralism. Audrey Gadzekpo, then director of the School of Communication Studies at the University of Ghana, argued that Ghana needed legislation that could respond to the changing media environment.
She highlighted the growing convergence of broadcasting, information technology and telecommunications, as well as the challenges created by internet broadcasting and social media.
The debate has also focused on broadcasting licence periods. A communiqué from the 2014 conference raised concerns that proposed validity periods of five years for radio and nine years for television could create challenges for investors and long-term business planning.
For MUSIGA and its industry partners, licensing periods are only part of the wider issue.
The organisations have proposed that broadcasters settle the appropriate rights fees owed to the Ghana Music Rights Organisation or the Audiovisual Rights Society of Ghana before receiving approval from the National Communications Authority.
They are also calling for a clear definition of local content and specific requirements for how much local material broadcasters should carry. One proposal is a 70 per cent local and 30 per cent foreign content ratio.
The renewed debate comes as Ghana’s creative sector continues to examine the visibility of its artists and productions both at home and across regional markets.
For MUSIGA, the delayed Broadcasting Bill presents an opportunity to establish clearer rules that can support Ghanaian creators while providing broadcasters and investors with a more predictable regulatory environment.
