FM Station
Act FM believes that for every community, a local radio station is extremely important as radio has proved its worth not only as a provider of real-time information but also as a valuable medium in times of emergency, such as when access to mobile networks is down as a result of an overload, or phone lines are cut, or even when there is no electricity as most radio sets can be battery operated. Because of the enormous impact of independent media on society, it should be regarded as a distinct development sector. Radio is frequently viewed as a source of empowerment, particularly for our society's marginalized groups, such as people with disabilities (PWDs), youth, women, and rural communities.
ACT FM was founded in Ghana in 2021 with the primary goal of providing an alternative voice for the people of the Oti Region. The station was the only ray of hope and the most powerful proof that the Oti's path to long-term peace and development was unstoppable. The station (ACT FM) aspires to be transformed into one that educates, entertains, and empowers citizens on a regular basis through well-defined messages on democracy, human rights, civic responsibilities, and accountable governance. ACT FM aspires to be a voice for the voiceless, regardless of political, religious, or ethnic affiliation. "Good morning, Oti," ACT FM's flagship program, is poised to become one of Ghana's most popular radio programs. The program's depth and diversity, combined with a diverse range of guests ranging from the Presidency to market women, either informing, responding to questions, or demanding accountability, appear to position the station as a stronghold of public engagement in governance processes. That is the essence of participatory democracy.
The station works to promote some of the core values that define an "open society": freedom of information, access to information, and accountable governance at all levels—government, citizens, and even non-governmental organizations. We believe that citizen participation is the cornerstone of democracy, and we work to help build a region that is freer, safer, more vibrant, and composed of tolerant societies.
The work of community radio developers has been described as "scattering seeds"—alluding to the original meaning of "broadcast"—the results of which take time to grow and mature—ripen by William Siemering, president of Developing Radio Partners (a US-based non-profit media development organization) and founding member of National Public Radio's Board of Directors in the United States of America. "Community radio is a simple, effective solution to achieve development goals, to prevent fragile states from becoming failed states, and to help people celebrate their own culture," he said. These words encapsulate the critical role that ACT FM democracy aspires to play in Oti Region democracy today.
Programming
The station sees itself as a space for pro-active citizen journalism and engagement, stimulating an active citizenry through the development of a website that enables live streaming of flagship programs; uploading and archiving audio files of past programs; public contribution via comments and questions; and access to the most recent news items.
We believe that information access is the lifeblood of a democratic society governed by the constitutional imperatives of openness, transparency, and accountability. As such, it is still a critical issue for Ghana. Radio is yet another unique platform for informing the public. Following the studio's debut, to a greater extent, the station's mission is to strengthen the nation's democratic credentials and governance processes through a planned expansion aimed at increasing its reach to other regional capitals of the country
In the future
ACT FM must first maintain its independence and objectivity. These can be accomplished by retaining a board that reflects the diversity of the community they seek to serve, clearly defining its mission, and establishing policies that guide the station's programmatic, financial, and administrative operations.
Second, while constantly assessing the effectiveness of its programming, the station must establish appropriate structures and processes to identify community and national needs and interests that inform programming and institutional decisions.
Third, the station must ensure diverse and innovative programming participation that adds value to the media landscape and causes positive change through policies and laws, rather than simply relaying information to citizens
The management of the station will benefit greatly from networking with media institutions both locally and throughout the sub-region. This will help the station's technical capacity and marketing skills to grow exponentially.
ACT FM's relevance will be enhanced by its ability to respond to its listeners while also ensuring that its programs are reliable and independent. The station is critical in reaching out to powerless and voiceless people and communities and giving them a voice. When people are informed and understand the issues, democracy works better. Participatory democracy entails people actively participating in and engaging in governance processes with their government, rather than simply voting.