Professor Kwame Karikari has raised concerns about the University of Ghana’s commitment to maintaining Radio Univers, citing the frequent downtime of the station’s transmitter as unacceptable.
He emphasized that the university’s lack of maintenance and support for the station threatens its sustainability. Additionally, he warned that the station’s persistent technical challenges could damage the university’s reputation, as prolonged downtime reflects poorly on the institution.
Professor Karikari, the first director of Radio Univers 105.7 FM, expressed these concerns during a research interview with Dr. Abubakari Sidick Ahmed, the immediate past manager of the station, on March 5, 2025.
“Now, you just told me that the transmitter has been down for some days—this is unacceptable. In fact, elsewhere, the NCA would fine you or even take away your frequency because it would mean you’re not interested in holding it. It is not acceptable for a university station to be off-air like this, as it raises serious questions about the station’s sustainability.”
Professor Karikari also questioned the university’s vision for Radio Univers, suggesting that the institution might be considering alternative models for the station, such as commercialization. However, he noted that such a shift would require significant changes to the station’s operations and mission.
“The university must step up. If they don’t want to maintain the station, should it go fully commercial? If so, then we must acknowledge that we are entering a competitive space, which would require a complete overhaul—no more training, no more educational focus, just a full commercial operation. Is that what they want? There is a need for a clear redefinition of purpose and vision.”
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Story by: Viglo Emmanuel | univers.ug.edu.gh
