On August 12, Ghana’s media regulator, the National Communications Authority (NCA) announced the suspension of nine (9) radio stations. According to the NCA, the nine stations were part of 62 radio stations which had previously been suspended on June 12, but were given a one-month amnesty period after President John Mahama intervened to reverse the suspension.
“Six (6) stations failed, refused and neglected to comply with the regulatory amnesty by taking no action. Consequently, (their operations) have been suspended,” the NCA’s statement read.
The affected stations are Donplus Multimedia Limited; Dreams Ghana Media Limited; Jam Multimedia Limited; Jewel Group Limited; Kpandai Star Community Radio; and Unique Gateway Communication Limited.
The other three affected stations, branches of Wontumi Multimedia Company in Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi, failed to address violations such as the unauthorised use of Studio-to-Transmitter Link (STL) frequencies and the operation of unapproved transmitter locations. These stations are part of Wontumi Radio, owned by Bernard Antwi Boasiako, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), also known as Chairman Wontumi.
During the amnesty period, the MFWA issued a press release urging defaulting stations to take advantage of the period to regularise their operations, and we are pleased that the NCA’s statement noted that “many of the violating stations took steps to remedy breaches during the amnesty period.” This shows that, when given the opportunity, operators can mobilise and correct irregularities in their operations.
However, we remain concerned about the regulator’s continued opaque approach in addressing regulatory noncompliance. In June, when 62 stations were suspended, we called on the NCA to be transparent by publishing a full list of the affected stations, detailing the specific infractions committed and the corresponding sanctions for each infraction.
The MFWA reiterates this call and urges the NCA to adopt a more transparent approach in its regulatory actions, as abrupt suspensions of radio stations risk denying citizens access to vital information.
