Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Sam Nartey George, has clarified that the recent suspension of 62 radio stations by the National Communications Authority (NCA) is not an attack on press freedom.
According to him, it is a necessary step to enforce regulatory compliance and address lawlessness within the media space.
Addressing Parliament on Thursday, June 12, following a directive from President John Dramani Mahama, Mr. George emphasized that all penalties previously imposed on the affected stations have been waived.
He urged the stations to take full advantage of a newly granted 30-day grace period to rectify their infractions and resume operations.
READ: Mahama calls for clemency as NCA shuts down 64 radio stations
The intervention comes after the NCA suspended the operations of several radio stations—including Asaase Radio, Happy FM, and Wontumi Radio—for persistent violations of broadcasting regulations.
The action was based on provisions in Regulations 54 and 56 of the Electronic Communications Regulations, 2011, and conditions tied to their FM broadcasting authorizations.
Following widespread public concern and internal discussions, President Mahama instructed the Communications Minister to work with the NCA to adopt a more measured approach—one that protects media freedom while ensuring regulatory standards are upheld.
Acting on this directive, Mr. George successfully negotiated a 30-day window for the affected stations to purge themselves of the cited infractions.
The goal, he noted, is to restore broadcasting services in a manner that respects both the rule of law and the essential role of the media in Ghana’s democracy.
In a statement issued by Presidential Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the President reaffirmed that regulatory enforcement must not come at the cost of press freedom and called for a balanced approach to managing compliance.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Hamdia Mohammed
