Once upon a transmission…
Once upon a transmission, before Wi-Fi and after black-and-white, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) roared like a lion. Today, it bleats like a goat with a sore throat — audible only when you lean close to the antenna and and visible when you squint at the screen. There was a time GBC was the sound of authority. The smooth voice of Tommy Annan Forson charmed the airwaves, and if you didn’t tune in, you weren’t truly Ghanaian. Right beside him stood legends like the venerable Mike Eghan, Godwin Avernorgbor, Joe Lartey, Beatrice Aidoo and David Ampofo — broadcasters so enchanting, even the mosquitoes paused to listen. Those were the days when a GBC ID card could part traffic, and GTV’s “We Bring You News” actually meant something. Today? They still bring you news, but sometimes it’s from last week. And with visuals from the wrong country. “When the crocodile smiles too much, even the fish begins to suspect.”
Anatomy of a Dinosaur: When Size Meant Nothing
Let’s not be coy — GBC owns 6 TV stations, 13 FM stations, enough land to start a tomato plantation, and studios so spacious, they echo with the ghosts of relevance past. With such assets, you’d think they’d be chasing Netflix for the next global docuseries. Instead, they chase shadows. Their news broadcasts still look like they were shot on a Nokia 3310, and the audio sometimes sounds like it’s coming from a broken borehole. You’ll be watching a story on Sudan and see goats at a durbar in Bunkpurugu. Once, during a live broadcast, a guest’s mic didn’t work. The guest mimed. GBC called it “experimental theatre.” “You can’t wear a crown of cobwebs and expect to be king.”
The Ghost in the Machine: Big Staff, Bigger Budget, No Spark
GBC employs hundreds. Their revenue runs into the millions. And yet, nothing ever seems to run — except time and excuses. If every staff member created just one compelling programme per year, we’d have enough content to launch GBCflix. But alas, they stir the pot and the soup remains tasteless. Meetings are held. Committees are formed. Memos are circulated. And the viewer still gets a documentary on road safety from 1994. Recruitment? Let’s just say GBC hires like they’re playing bingo — if your number is lucky and your godfather’s handshake is firm, welcome aboard! “The one who sharpens a cutlass on sponge has no intention of farming.”
The Missing BBC Spirit: License to Snooze
Yes, GBC was modeled after the BBC. But while the BBC grew into a global juggernaut with sleek programming and accountability, GBC remains a glorified public announcement system. The BBC has a Trust Fund. GBC has trust issues. Here in Ghana, citizens are charged TV license fees to fund a public broadcaster. What they receive in return is a national screensaver — fuzzy images, repeated programmes, and that ever-present sense that the 1980s never really ended. “The one who uses a broken mirror never sees his wrinkles.”
Young Minds, Old Chains: Innovation in Captivity
Walk through GBC’s halls and you’ll meet bright, tech-savvy young men and women brimming with ideas. Many are as talented as any global media professional — but they are suffocated by bureaucracy, sidelined by a culture that worships tenure over talent. Innovation here is like a banned film — whispered about in corridors, rarely seen on screen. “A child who is not allowed to dance will shake in the shadows.”
What If GBC Were a Business?
Let’s daydream. Suppose a hungry, no-nonsense private entrepreneur took over GBC. First, he’d auction half the land. Second, he’d audit the staff (and probably find 50 ghosts hosting a morning show). Third, he’d plug GBC into the 21st century with monetized digital content, branded entertainment, and a studio where the lights don’t flicker. Today, even Joy FM might worry. Instead, GBC is the station you land on when your TV remote is broken. “You don’t dry cassava with tears.”
Who’s Watching the Watchdog?
There was a time GBC set the tone for national discourse. Today, the only time it trends is when a spelling mistake becomes a meme. In an age of TikTok, Reels, and X threads, GBC still types captions in PowerPoint and exports video at 144p. In a media environment hungry for speed, relevance, and connection, GBC remains a soft whisper in a shouting match. “If your mouth is not sharp, don’t chew razor blade.”
Mic Drop: Bury It or Bring It Back?
So here we are — at the edge of a decision. Do we continue to keep GBC on life support? Do we privatize, partner, or press the reset button? Maybe we rebrand: “GBC — Ghana Before Cable.” Let us not throw away the baby with the bathwater. But we must ask: is there a baby, or are we scrubbing an empty tub? “If the drums are too old to beat, use them for firewood.”
Final Word
GBC is not dead. It is simply buffering. And if we don’t act, it may still be loading… in 2045.
The writer, Jimmy Aglah, is a media executive, author, and sharp-eyed social commentator. His latest book, Once Upon a Time in Ghana: Satirical Chronicles from the Republic of Uncommon Sense, now available on Amazon Kindle, delivers a witty, piercing take on Ghanaian society and governance. When he’s not steering broadcast operations, he’s busy challenging conventions—often with satire, always with purpose.
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