The Human Rights Division of the Accra High Court has ordered the Media Foundation for West Africa to pay GHc1500 to the National Communications Authority for information on radio and television stations that were closed by government in 2019.
The court presided over by Justice Gifty Agyei Addo said the information being requested is in the interest of the public.
The court has however ordered the MFWA to pay a fee of GHc1,500 instead of the GHc2,000 that were among other things being demanded by the NCA.
The court said the furnishing of the information is subject to the payment of statutory fee even though parliament was yet to determine that.
Relying on the Ernest Nyorgbe vs the Electoral Commission’s case, the court ordered the MFWA to pay the amount for the information to be furnished.
While granting request, 1, 2 and 4, the court exempted the request that the MFWA wanted to know reasons why the NCA made changes to exclude certain information from its published 2020 second-quarter report titled: “List of Authorised VHF-FM Radio Stations in Ghana as at Second Quarter 2020,” compared with other similar reports previously issued by the Authority.
Muheeb Saed, the Programs manager Freedom of Speech at MFWA while addressing the media after the court’s Judgement said they welcome the decision of the court with mixed feelings.
He also expressed disappointment in the decision of the court to ask them to pay GHc1500 for information.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Murtala Inusah
