Ghana’s national budget for 2026 has provisioned for the country’s media regulator, the National Media Commission (NMC), to decentralise the resolution of disputes between media organisations and persons that they offend with their publication.
An announcement to this effect was made by Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, on Thursday November 13, 2025, while presenting the government’s Budget Statement and Economic Policy for 2026. “In 2026, the Commission will operationalise Regional Complaints Settlement Offices to decentralise complaint handling and enhance citizens’ access to redress mechanisms,” Dr. Ato Forson announced.
Ghana has a total of 16 administrative regions. This provision in the 2026 Budget implies that the NMC, which traditionally has been mainly based in the national capital, Accra, will have satellite offices for dispute resolution across the regions. And, to expedite the speedy and amicable resolution of suchlike disputes, the NMC will also introduce Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), according to the Finance Minister, who added that this will be backed by a Legislative Instrument.
“A new Legislative Instrument will be drafted to introduce expedited, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)-compliant complaint procedures, especially vital during election periods.” Minister Ato Forson also said that the Commission will further undertake a comprehensive review of existing media guidelines, in collaboration with stakeholders, to modernise regulatory standards and strengthen accountability in the media space.
Meanwhile, the finance minister also announced that the NMC, will in the coming year, introduce a media freedom index – “a Ghana-specific Media Freedom Index that blends quantitative data and qualitative assessments, enabling more accurate benchmarking of media independence” he said.
The revelations for 2026 were premised on what the Minister said are improvements that the NMC has already made in 2025, including the fact that the NMC strengthened its oversight role in 2025 by mediating disputes between radio stations and traditional authorities across several regions.
Additionally, he said the Commission’s facilitation of dialogue between community leaders and media operators helped to promote responsible broadcasting and mutual respect between traditional institutions and the media.
The NMC has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bank of Ghana, the National Communications Authority, and other regulatory partners to clamp down on charlatanic and deceptive advertisements. This inter-agency collaboration has already started sanitising the airwaves, curbing misinformation, and protecting citizens from exploitative commercial content.
