Rectify regulatory breaches in 30 days-Minister to shut down radio stations
This decision, which allows the affected stations time to address regulatory issues, was made in response to a directive from President John Mahama.
Samuel Nartey George, the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovation, has announced that the government will provide a 30-day grace period for radio stations recently shut down by the National Communications Authority (NCA).
This decision, which allows the affected stations time to address regulatory issues, was made in response to a directive from President John Mahama.
During his address to Parliament on Thursday, June 12, Mr. George explained that the government, under Mahama’s orders, would work with the NCA to help the media houses rectify their regulatory breaches and restore their operations. He emphasized that radio stations that fail to comply within the 30-day timeframe would face the formal revocation of their licenses according to the established regulations.
Furthermore, in a move seen as part of a more compassionate and democratic approach, Mr. George confirmed that the government would waive all fines that would typically have been imposed on the stations. This contrasts with the previous administration's approach, which had involved hefty fines and arbitrary shutdowns.
The shutdowns, carried out by the NCA on Thursday, affected 64 radio stations, including prominent ones such as Asaase Radio, Happy FM, and Wontumi FM. These stations were penalized for failing to adhere to the Electronic Communications Regulations, 2011 (L.I. 1991), specifically Regulations 54 and 56.
