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By Staff Reporter - Capital
25 September, 2007
Ethiopia is the only country not to have a community radio among all other African countries. This was emphasized at a workshop which discussed community radio for civil society held at the Ghion Hotel on September 21, 2007.
It was learnt that organizations who request certification from the Broadcasting Authority must prove that, they are non-profitable organizations funded by NGOs and/or civil society. The chairperson of the Board of those organizations seeking certification must also be selected by the community they hope to transmit their programs to. If these criteria are met the Authority may issue a certificate valid for 5 years.
Experience from other African countries shows that the community radio is the best way to educate a society about economic development , health and other social issues. However, civil society organizations who want to engage in this media complained that the Authority is not willing to issue certificates, even if they fulfill all the criteria.
There are more than four community radios that want to establish their own stations but the Authority has given a certificate to just one, called the “Kore Community Radio”, which will start broadcasting in the Amaro special Woreda located in the Southern Nation and Nationality People Region.