In a bid to start the running of a National Catholic Television Station, Lumen Christi Catholic Media Limited under the auspices of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) on Thursday, March 31, 2022 held the Diocesan launch of the Lumen Christi TV Project (LC TV) and town hall meeting at the St. Bakhita Parish Hall in Koforidua of the Eastern Region.
Lumen Christi TV is a National Catholic TV Project being spearheaded by the National Catholic Laity Council. Lumen Christi Catholic Media Limited is a media company limited by shares and owned by the Catholic Church of Ghana to run Lumen Christi (LC) TV.
The theme for the programme was “Living the authentic Christian Social Teaching through Mass Media Evangelization”.
In a Keynote Address, Mrs. Elizabeth Sasu, Chairperson of the Koforidua Diocesan Laity Council recounted the many efforts and the progress made by the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference and the Catholic Church in Ghana to attain a frequency to operate a TV station in the country, following the prohibition of Religious bodies to own such media according to the directives given by the ministry of information in 1993.
She reiterated that in July 1990, the Laity were advised to take up this challenge as a cooperate entity to apply for a frequency, which was taken up by the Knight of Marshall and the Knight St. John International, adding that attempts and initiatives were made from that time by various Bishops and Dioceses to operate which gave rise to Catholic Digest but came with its challenge.
According to Mrs. Sasu, the GCBC at a Plenary Session in Accra on May 20, 2020 approved the aged-long discussion for action and resolved that the Laity be joint owners of the project.
She said this decision was to close the chapter on economically subdue broadcasting service that is dubbed, “The Catholic Digest” on GTV and Crystal TV Channel.
She added that this new broadcast will bring the rich and diverse program content to serve as a basis for sponsorship and ownership of Lumen Christi TV to be operated by Lumen Christi Catholic Media Limited.
The Koforidua Laity Chairperson outdoored the mission, values, and principles, and owners of the Lumen Christi TV (LC TV) and touched on funding plans and the required amount of 1 million dollars needed to commence the test transmission.
She addressed the gathering on broadcast and transmission plan to be comprehended by other Social Media handles, which would be beneficial to 19 Dioceses and a Vicariate in the country.
Mrs. Sasu, therefore, urged all to support this project especially financially to sustain the project.
Mr. Joseph Kudjodji, a representative of the National Implementation Committee of Lumen Christi TV, revealed that, the TV had its head office in Accra and would have 20 bureaus in all the Dioceses and a Vicariate under their respective Diocesan Departments of Social Communications (DEPSOCOM).
According to him, this is to reflect its national character and be managed by a team of media professionals to be recruited by the Board of Directors.
He added that the Broadcast and Transmission of the LC TV would be done via digital terrestrial and satellite transmission. This will provide coverage into the 19 Dioceses and a Vicariate whilst satellite broadcast will give coverage all over Africa.
He said that LC TV has the mandate to deliver fascinating television programs and content that informs, entertains, educates, and evangelizes to a global audience.
The Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum, Bishop of Koforidua said that one way of applying the incarnation is evangelisation and this, he said, can be done through the media.
He, therefore, urged all to help contribute and support Lumen Christi TV (LC TV).
