West-Central Africa Division

New Web Radio Training Equips Media Leaders in Seven African Languages

Participants enhance their skills to launch new web radio stations across the region.

February 20, 2025

Ghana

Abraham Bakari, West-Central Africa Division

New Web Radio Training Equips Media Leaders in Seven African Languages

[Photo: West-Central Africa Division]

A groundbreaking training program equipping new web radio station managers and producers has successfully concluded in Accra, Ghana.

The initiative, organized by the West-Central Africa Division (WAD), brought together 18 participants from seven African nations to enhance their digital broadcasting skills and prepare for the launch of Internet radio stations in their respective languages.

Facilitated by Gideon Pelser, a seasoned digital media expert of Adventist World Radio (AWR) from South Africa, the three-day training from February 4–6, 2025, focused on the future of radio in the digital age. Pelser emphasized the power of web radio, describing it as the next frontier for mass communication and mission outreach.

Empowering Media for Digital Evangelism

Participants represented diverse linguistic backgrounds, including Kaseem (Ghana), Pidgin English (Nigeria), Fulfulde (Cameroon), Wolof (The Gambia), Moore (Burkina Faso), Krio (Sierra Leone), and Sango (Central African Republic). Through interactive sessions, they explored various modules, such as the essence of Internet radio, musical content, equipment and software, technical setup, effective interview techniques, and platform management.

Pelser’s hands-on approach provided a practical foundation for integrating faith-based messages into digital radio content. His expertise in media production and digital evangelism encouraged participants to leverage modern broadcasting tools for greater impact.

Strategic Roadmap for Web Radio Expansion

At the conclusion of the training, participants led by Abraham Bakari, director of Communication for WAD, assisted by Stella Love Drah, AWR Coordinator for WAD, collaboratively developed a strategic plan for successfully launching the web radio stations.

This blueprint outlines key objectives, programming schedules, audience engagement strategies, and technological requirements to ensure sustainable operations.

Attendees highly praised the training, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to refine their media skills in a collaborative and dynamic learning environment.

“This program has not only equipped us with technical skills but has also strengthened our mission to spread the gospel through digital platforms,” Josephine Ehwe from Nigeria noted.

Gideon Pelser, inspired by the enthusiasm and commitment of the team, extended his mission in Ghana by planning an evangelistic campaign before returning to South Africa.

"The passion and energy of these media leaders are incredible. They are ready to take web radio to the next level and amplify their outreach,” he remarked.

As digital radio continues to shape the future of broadcasting, this initiative marks a significant milestone in advancing Adventist communication across linguistic and cultural barriers in West-Central Africa.