Select Country:

Ghana

Last update: 04.03.2024 - older versions

On 22 August 2023, the Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Honourable Ursula Owusu-Ekuful officially launched the trial phase of the Digital Audio Broadcasting service in Ghana. With the launch, Ghana becomes the first country in West Africa and the fourth on the continent to deploy the DAB service.

The DAB platform in Ghana is being implemented by the National Communications Authority (NCA), and involves 18 stations – 11 based in Accra and 7 in Kumasi. With the commencement of the trial, listeners in the two cities will be able to access any of the stations using DAB+ receivers. The initial trial is expected to last six months after which the NCA will review and decide the next phase of its deployment.

The 11 stations in Accra are Unique FM, Asempa FM, Peace FM, Citi FM, Class FM, Oman FM, Asaase Radio, Atlantis Radio, Radio Univers, Starr FM and Hot FM.

The seven in Kumasi are Kessben FM, Radio Focus, Orange FM, Angel FM, Opemsuo FM, Wontumi FM and Sompa FM.

Watch video of the launch event.

Watch the GBC Ghana News Hour report on the launch of DAB trials on 22 August 2023.

In a presentation at ABU Digital Broadcasting Symposium 2024, the NCA's next steps were set out as follows:

Promotion of DAB services

Continue to promote DAB during trial period for listeners to acquire receivers

Monitoring

Continuous monitoring of DAB transmission parameters for optimisation.
Assessment of feedback from listeners.

Public awareness campaign

Public education on benefits of DAB.

Expansion of DAB trial into other regions

Improved access to information and entertainment
Enhance communication and public service broadcasting
Create economic opportunities
Bridge the digital divide
Stimulate technological advancement
Promote cultural preservation and diversity

Development of regulatory framework

Promoting innovation and competition
Protecting consumer interests
Fostering the growth of the DAB ecosystem

Last update: 24.08.2023 - older versions

The trial launched in August 2023 will cover Accra and Kumasi.

In this country there is

Local multiplex: 1 Trial

on air.

	Simulcast on AM / FM	Exclusive on digital	Total of services
DAB+ programmes	18	0	18

Last update: 24.08.2023 - older versions

On 22 August 2023, trials were launched by the National Communications Authority (NCA), broadcasting 18 stations – 11 based in Accra and 7 in Kumasi. The initial trial is expected to last six months after which the NCA will review and decide the next phase of its deployment.

DAB here - technology trial takes off

23.08.2023 - Ghana

A new radio technology, Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB), that enables the transmission of digital audio content over the airwaves, has gone live in the country. This makes the country the first in West Africa and fourth on the continent to embrace the innovative technology. With increasing demand for sound broadcasting services and limited FM frequency availability in major cities, the country’s deployment of the latest version of DAB, the DAB+, will address frequency constraints for FM radio and allow stations to reach more cities.

(Graphic Online) Read more

NCA begins Digital Audio Broadcasting trial in Ghana with Citi FM, others

23.08.2023 - Ghana

The National Communications Authority (NCA) has launched the trial phase of Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) in Ghana. This move establishes Ghana as the pioneer in West Africa and the fourth in Africa to embrace this innovation, which enables radio stations to extend their reach to cities beyond their immediate locations, giving them a wider audience. The trial will kick off with 11 radio stations in Accra, including Citi FM, and an additional 7 stations in Kumasi. The Director General of the National Communications Authority, Joe Anokye noted that DAB has the potential to reshape the radio landscape in Ghana.

(Citi Newsroom) Read more

Uniiq FM in pilot phase of DAB in Ghana

22.08.2023 - Ghana

The Minister of Communications, Mrs. Ursula Owusu Ekuful, has launched the trial phase of Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB), in Ghana. The trial phase of the DAB service will be deployed in Accra and Kumasi for a period of six months with eighteen existing FM stations in the two regions, following which the full deployment will be done nationwide. GBC’s Uniiq FM is the first among 18 stations selected for the trial phase.

(GBC) Read more

K-NET, 16 FM stations pilot DAB in Ghana

02.08.2023 - Ghana

Some 16 FM stations in Accra and Kumasi, and Ghana’s leading broadcasting technology operator, K-NET are piloting the recently announced Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) system under the auspices of the National Communications Authority (NCA). The NCA announced the commencement of trials for DAB in Accra and Kumasi, following which it held a stakeholder engagement with the selected parties involved. The stakeholders included the selected 16 FM stations as well as KNET, the technical partners for the project.

(TechFocus24) Read more

NCA holds stakeholder engagement on DAB+

27.07.2023 - Ghana

Following the announcement by the National Communications Authority (NCA) about the commencement of trials for Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) in Accra and Kumasi, the Authority engaged with selected stakeholders involved in the upcoming trials. The stakeholders included the selected 16 FM stations as well as KNET, the partners for the project.

(National Communications Authority (NCA)) Read more

Ghana's DAB trial kicks off in Accra and Kumasi in August

24.07.2023 - Ghana

Ghana's National Communications Authority (NCA) is pleased to announce the commencement of a Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) trial in Accra and Kumasi. 18 FM stations involved in this trial will be heard simultaneously in Accra and Kumasi. Ghana will deploy the latest version of DAB, that is DAB+. This trial positions Ghana as the first country in West Africa and the fourth in Africa to deploy DAB. The trial commences in August 2023.

(National Communications Authority (NCA)) Read more