The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) requires GH¢36 million to expand its operations into six newly created regions, according to the Minister of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu.

Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, March 19, the minister highlighted the financial challenges facing GBC, the Information Services Department (ISD), and the Ghana News Agency (GNA).

He emphasized that the GH¢78 million allocated to his ministry for the year is insufficient to support the operational needs of these three key agencies under his supervision.

“The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation alone needs GH¢36 million to establish a presence in the six regions that they [the previous administration] created,” Kwakye Ofosu stated.

The six regions—Oti, Ahafo, Bono East, North East, Savannah, and Western North—were created in 2019 to enhance governance and equitable development. The expansion followed a successful referendum on December 27, 2018, in which over 90% of voters endorsed the proposal.

Despite GBC’s existing presence in the country’s 10 former regions, the minister stressed that additional funds are necessary to establish operations in the new regions and effectively deliver public service broadcasting to all Ghanaians.

Beyond GBC, Kwakye Ofosu noted that the entire ministry is struggling with financial constraints, particularly in supporting the 2,537 civil servants employed across GBC, ISD, and GNA. He warned that the inadequate budget could hinder these institutions from fulfilling their mandate of government communication and public information dissemination.

He, therefore, called for increased financial support to enable these agencies to operate efficiently and meet the growing demands of public service media in the country.

The government has announced that GHS2.7 billion will be spent to cover wages and salaries for 11,657 Civil Servants in 30 agencies under the Office of Government Machinery.