Ghana’s Northern Regional Minister has applauded the Catholic Church in the West African nation for always living up its role as partner to the State in the process of social transformation and development of the people.
Mr. Shani Alhassan Shaibu, the Regional Minister in a speech read on his behalf at the launch of the national Catholic Television Project christened Lumen Christi (Light of Christ) TV in Tamale on June 4, said the launch was another demonstration of the Church’s commitment to contribute its quota to the upliftment of the development of our people.
The speech was read by Mr. Alhassan Issahaku, the Chief Director, Northern Regional Coordinating Council, who represented the Regional Minister as the Guest of Honour
Commenting on the Churches role in the media, he commended it for giving a voice to the voiceless, singling out The Catholic Standard Newspaper for its role during the period of the “culture of silence” where it served as an alternative voice through which alternative views could be heard in Ghana.
He also lauded the GCBC for its advocacy role.
“We all know the power of the media in shaping thoughts, ideas, perceptions, ideologies and behaviours, I look forward to this TV station living up to this responsibility”, he stated.
However, he lamented that the media landscape in the country was heavily polarised, hence, urged LCTV to be objective and to use its airwaves to help address the myriad of challenges that confront the region, especially chieftaincy, land and religious disputes as well as poverty.
The Regional Minister called on Lumen Christi also to compliment the efforts of Archbishop Naameh in his role as Chairman of the Northern Region Peace Council in ensuring peace in the region.
He also urged LCTV to use its airwaves to sensitize the citizenry against terrorism, stressing that the Catholic Church has an important role in complimenting government’s efforts in addressing the threat.
He commended the Church for not relenting on its efforts to establish a TV station in spite of the several unsuccessful attempts it has made towards fulfilling this dream since 1993 and assured of his unflinching support in this endeavour.
Mr. Samuel A. Awugah, the Chairman of the Tamale Archdiocesan Laity Council in a keynote address, disclosed that the operationalization of LCTV will bring to an end the rather commercially subdued broadcasting service dubbed the “Catholic Digest” carried as a 30-minute programme on GTV and on the Crystal TV channel with support from the network for over twenty years”, adding that LCTV will be infused with rich and diverse programme content to serve as a basis for sponsorship and viewership appeal.
Quoting the Scripture, “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house” (Mt 5:14-15), he said, “Lumen Christi TV would serve as the standpoint on which we will place the lamp of Christ”.
In this regard, he stressed the need to project the faith and moral values of the gospel according to the teachings of the Catholic Church such that many would be informed and be formed.
He added that LCTV would serve as an effective instrument to teach and ensure the realization of the basic social principles of the Catholic Church, noting that the channel would serve as an avenue to teach and highlight the ten key principles of the social teaching of the Church, namely human dignity, community and common good, rights and responsibilities, option for the poor and venerable, participation, dignity of work and rights of workers, stewardship of creation, solidarity, the role of government and the promotion of peace.
Touching on the core values of Lumen Christi Catholic Media, operators of the LCTV channel, Mr. Awugah said they will be guided by five fundamental principles which will resonate through their operations. These are quality and consistency, bold and brilliant, customer focus and evangelistic, high integrity and maturity, and meticulousness.
In a brief remark, the Most Rev. Philip Naameh, Archbishop of Tamale, appealed to the gathering to be generous to make it possible for the seed money required to operationalize LCTV to be raised.
Archbishop Naameh, assisted by Mr. Robert Dela Mawuenyegah, Public Relations Officer who also doubles as the Organiser of the National Implementation Committee (NIC) of Lumen Christi TV, inaugurated and inducted members of the Tamale Archdiocesan Implementation, Fundraising and Content Committees.
Mr. Mawuenyegah later briefed the gathering about the genesis of the LCTV project, its activities and roadmap towards test transmission.
He also used the opportunity to commend Archbishop Naameh for his commitment to the project, recalling his role as Episcopal Chairman of the Department of Social Communications of the GCBC and expressed delight that the project is on the verge of taking off during his tenure as president.
He added that it is their expectation that LCTV will be fully operational before he hands over to his successor.
He urged the inducted officers not to recoil into their shells after the event but reach out to the parishes and deaneries to educate the people about the project and also continue with the fundraising activities to make it possible for the required seed money to be mobilised.
In this regard, he educated the gathering about how to use an App called “chango”, to donate towards the project.
The Local Council of Churches in a goodwill message which was read by its Secretary, Rev. Adu Amoakohene Don-Peters, described the initiative as “historic and important”.
He noted that it is to fulfil the command of our Lord to His apostles thus, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt. 28:19).
He observed that this command cannot be effectively executed in this era when the world is a global village without the use of mass media. He, therefore, commended the Catholic Church for taking the appropriate action in this regard.
Professor Anthony Amalba of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University for Development Studies (UDS), who chaired the function, stated the need for the Catholic Church to operate the TV station has been on the drawing board for many years and discussed at various levels.
He lamented that this dream could not materialize due to regulatory and financial constraints and recalled that at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic when restrictions were imposed on public gatherings, the Church was unable to carry out its evangelisation activities, compelling it to resort to the use of technology such as YouTube and zoom to be able to reach her members which he noted was expansive for majority of parishioners. Hence, he said the LCTV channel comes in handy.
He observed that while Covid-19 brought a lot of hardships, it also came with a lot of opportunities, especially in the information and communication technology arena.
“Electronic media is driving the world and we are to embrace it and make it work for us”, Professor Amalba stated. While urging participants to support the project, he stated that their donations will also make it possible to resource and strengthen the capacities of the DEPSOCOM offices throughout the country.
By Francis E. Monnie
