World Radio Day: Diversity in radio means we must tolerate other views – Oppong Nkrumah

The Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has urged stakeholders in the radio industry to be tolerant of multiple views and perspectives.

That, he said would diversify radio content for the benefit of the public.

 “There is a growing tendency of many of us who want to force our opinions down the ears and the minds of everybody else. If it is not our opinion, then everybody else is wrong,” he said.

Mr. Nkrumah said it was crucial that industry players increase the level of tolerance, while expressing their views, to ensure that diversity penetrates through radio signals and affect content and everything else from radio.

The Minister, who is also MP for Ofoase Ayirebi, urged radio stations to design content that would  promote diversity of opinions from the marginalised and the minority.

“The views of these kind of people must be reflected in the kind of conversations we want to have.  So that we don’t end up being the judges of the discussion,  but  the consumer at home  benefits, from the various perspectives, and in the end makes up his or her mind” he added.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) set aside  February 13 of each year to celebrate radio as a way of educating people, providing information and promoting freedom of expression across varied cultures.

According to the UNESCO, the day was set aside to primarily “raise greater awareness among the public and the media of the importance of radio; to encourage decision makers to establish and provide access to information through radio; as well as to enhance networking and international cooperation among broadcasters”.