Member of Parliament for Abirem, Charles Asuako Wiredu has described the National Communications Authority’s decision to withdraw the licenses of over sixty media channels as politically motivated.
The parliamentarian, who was speaking in the House after the Minister of Communications, Sam George had read the statement announcing the terminations said the move was needless and aimed at selected politically exposed persons.
“Mr Speaker, these are settings. We think that the decision is arbitrary, there was no need for the initial statement to ban these radio stations. You could as well have spoken to these radio stations, issued a statement, giving them this clemency and some time to fulfill all the payments they are supposed to make.”
He continued: “From outside, we think that this decision was not taken with the right mind. We think that it was targeted at some political party, political party people who own radio stations.”
Just hours after the NCA’s decision to suspend the licenses, President John Mahama issued a statement through the Government Communications Ministry, calling for clemency.
The president highlighted the importance of the media’s work to the country.
READ: Mahama calls for clemency as NCA shuts down 64 radio stations
In Parliament, the opposition were on the attack. Mr. Wiredu touted the media as the 4th estate of the realm and an essential pillar in consolidating the country’s democratic gains.
He said he was concerned that there was an intention to monetize free speech in Ghana.
The legislator noted that most of the affected media outlets were community media that were crucial in disseminating information from news makers to their constituents.
“If you stop them from broadcasting, how do we communicate to a constituents in Ghana?” he quizzed.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Mitchell Asare Amoamah
