{"id":66266,"date":"2026-06-02T07:03:25","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T11:03:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=66266"},"modified":"2026-06-02T07:03:25","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T11:03:25","slug":"shortwave-memories-ghanas-north-american-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2026\/06\/shortwave-memories-ghanas-north-american-service\/","title":{"rendered":"Shortwave Memories \u2014 Ghana\u2019s North American Service"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>by Karl D. Forth<\/b><\/p>\n

Many of the African nations achieved independence in the 1960s, and as they raised their new national flag they wanted to be connected to the outside world. One of the first things they often did was build an airport so they could be accessible. The second was setting up a shortwave radio station so their national voice could be heard both domestically and internationally.<\/p>\n

Radio Ghana, an early independent country (1957), took this a step further by establishing a North American shortwave service, audible in the mid-afternoon in the eastern United States. In my early listening months, this was one of the more exotic places I could receive on my portable shortwave radio.<\/p>\n

I sent them a letter, seeking a QSL card verifying reception, and more information. Employees at the Accra General Post Office gathered letters, rather infamously so, and a few weeks later I received a pen pal aerogram from a postal worker in Accra. At the time, this was welcome and a little bit exciting. I remember showing the first letter to my mother and father. They seemed to approve, with a reaction of \u201cthis hobby may not be so bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

My correspondence with the postal employee continued for a year or two, beyond the life of the North American service. He never did ask for money or anything else (many other listeners received requests for money from other postal workers), but he did dispense a bit of advice that I\u2019ve always remembered. After learning that I was a high school student, he advised: Don\u2019t Play With Books. That means don\u2019t screw around with your educational opportunity.<\/p>\n

Ghana Broadcasting Corp. had a number of frequencies for domestic broadcasts in places such as Ejura and Tema. The external service was based in the capital, Accra, and its broadcasts included two frequencies to North America from 2000 to 2100 GMT daily.<\/p>\n

For many years after the North American service ended, Ghana could be heard on several 60 meter frequencies in the late evening and sometimes during late winter afternoons.<\/p>\n

Karl D. Forth has been interested in radio and DXing for more than 50 years. This story was included in the book\u00a0Radio Nights and Distant Signals<\/a><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Please note: all Amazon links are affiliate links that support the SWLing Post at no cost to you.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Karl D. Forth Many of the African nations achieved independence in the 1960s, and as they raised their new national flag they wanted to be connected to the outside world. One of the first things they often did was build an airport so they could be accessible. The second was setting up a shortwave […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[3,305,894,43],"tags":[11132,4982,11102,5751],"class_list":["post-66266","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-nostalgia","category-qsl-gallery","category-shortwave-radio","tag-ghana-broadcasting-corporation","tag-ghana-broadcasting-corporation-qsl","tag-karl-d-forth","tag-shortwave-memories"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-heO","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":18378,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/04\/pauls-rare-and-classic-shortwave-qsl-cards\/","url_meta":{"origin":66266,"position":0},"title":"Paul’s rare and classic shortwave QSL cards","author":"Thomas","date":"April 20, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"A couple months ago at my local ham radio club meeting (the NCDXCC), my buddy Paul Greaves (W4FC) mentioned that his passion for amateur radio DXing originated with shortwave broadcaster DXing. He told me: \"When I was a teen I could\u00a0hardly wait to check the PO Box to see what\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Art"","block_context":{"text":"Art","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/art-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"QSL collage","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/QSL-collage-1024x663.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/QSL-collage-1024x663.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/QSL-collage-1024x663.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":65306,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2026\/02\/radio-bulgaria-marks-its-90th-anniversary-with-a-new-qsl-card-series\/","url_meta":{"origin":66266,"position":1},"title":"Radio Bulgaria Marks Its 90th Anniversary with a New QSL Card Series","author":"Thomas","date":"February 10, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Paul Jamet, who shares the following update and QSL card images related to Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) and Radio Bulgaria. As Radio Bulgaria looks ahead to its 90th anniversary in 2026, Bulgarian National Radio has announced a new commemorative QSL card series for listeners\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "International Broadcasting"","block_context":{"text":"International Broadcasting","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/international-broadcasting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Radio-Bulgaria-Sofia-QSL-Paul-Jamet-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Radio-Bulgaria-Sofia-QSL-Paul-Jamet-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Radio-Bulgaria-Sofia-QSL-Paul-Jamet-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Radio-Bulgaria-Sofia-QSL-Paul-Jamet-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Radio-Bulgaria-Sofia-QSL-Paul-Jamet-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":65927,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2026\/05\/shortwave-memories-go-go-radio-moscow\/","url_meta":{"origin":66266,"position":2},"title":"Shortwave Memories — Go Go Radio Moscow","author":"Thomas","date":"May 1, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"by Karl D. Forth Radio Moscow didn\u2019t seem confrontational. We\u2019re here, their attitude seemed to be, and we\u2019re going to offer our opinion on things, which you may or may not like. Looking at the World Radio-TV Handbook in the early 1970s, Radio Moscow was on dozens of frequencies from\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Radio-Moscow-graphic.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Radio-Moscow-graphic.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Radio-Moscow-graphic.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":61210,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/11\/texas-radio-shortwave-december-2024-schedule-and-christmas-qsl\/","url_meta":{"origin":66266,"position":3},"title":"Texas Radio Shortwave: December 2024 Schedule and Christmas QSL","author":"Thomas","date":"November 26, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Terry, who writes: Hi - Here\u2019s our December program schedule and Christmas QSL in two different formats. [T]he frequency from the Woofferton transmitter will be announced on various media outlets as soon as it\u2019s confirmed. \u00a0 Thanks Best wishes and 73. Terry Texas Radio\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/TRSW-2024-Master-Program-Schedule_December.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/TRSW-2024-Master-Program-Schedule_December.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/TRSW-2024-Master-Program-Schedule_December.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9253,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/04\/shortwave-radio-recordings-abc-radio-far-north-as-cyclone-ita-makes-landfall\/","url_meta":{"origin":66266,"position":4},"title":"Shortwave Radio Recordings: ABC Radio Far North as Cyclone Ita makes landfall","author":"Thomas","date":"April 12, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Mark Fahey, who has shared this special recording: a shortwave relay of the ABC Far North radio service. Mark explains: \"ABC Radio (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) Far North (Queensland, Australia) Emergency Broadcast Service during the period that Severe Tropical Cyclone was making landfall in Australia's\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"tropical-cyclone-ita","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/tropical-cyclone-ita.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/tropical-cyclone-ita.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/tropical-cyclone-ita.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":34226,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/09\/qsl-information-for-wantok-radio-light\/","url_meta":{"origin":66266,"position":5},"title":"QSL information for Wantok Radio Light","author":"Thomas","date":"September 20, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Kanwar Sandhu, who shares the following QSL information from Wantok Radio Light: Wantok Radio Light is a Christian Radio Station operating in Papua New Guinea. We broadcasts 24 hours, seven days a week on 93.9 FM in Port Moresby, 105.9 FM in other provinces\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "International Broadcasting"","block_context":{"text":"International Broadcasting","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/international-broadcasting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Radio-Dial-1024x679.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Radio-Dial-1024x679.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Radio-Dial-1024x679.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66266","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=66266"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66266\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":66268,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66266\/revisions\/66268"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=66266"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=66266"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=66266"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}