A sod cutting ceremony has been held for the commencement of work on the state of the art UCC Broadcasting Centre for ATL FM and UCC TV behind Valco Hall, North Campus.

The radio portion of the project is expected to be completed in 18 months and would comprise offices, two studios and resting rooms. The Television station which will be completed at a later time will have facilities like studios, theatres etc.

Speaking at the function, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. D. D. Kuupole, acknowledged the role ATL FM continue to play to project the image of UCC in the Central Region and beyond. He observed that the construction of the Broadcasting Centre was timely because, it will not only serve as a teaching, learning and research centre for the Department of Communication Studies but will also enhance students’ interest in media practice.

Prof.  Kuupole congratulated the Student Representative Council (SRC) for taking a bold decision to bear part of the cost of the project adding that “You shall forever be remembered in the annals of the history of UCC.” He also paid tribute to the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Emmanuel Addow-Obeng, under whose tenure the University officially took over the station and the present ATL FM Management Board for their active role in making the dream of building permanent structures a reality.

The Station Manager of ATL FM, Mr. Kwabena Antwi Konadu noted that the station which is the first Campus Radio Station in Ghana had lived up to its mandate of providing information, education and entertainment to the University Community and the general public.  He stressed that “As a campus radio station, our programmes are skewed towards teaching, learning and research to conform to the statutory mandate of the University of Cape Coast.”

Mr. Antwi-Konadu pointed out that ATL FM had enriched its reputation by establishing partnerships with two renowned international media organisations namely; the British Broadcasting Corporation and Voice of America. At the national level, the station transmits news and other current affairs programmes from Joy FM in Accra.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Campus Radio Monitoring Board, Dr. Victor Yankah indicated that the station was another success story of students’ contribution to development projects on Campus.