The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) wants the National Communications Authority (NCA) to review its decision that led to the shutdown of two radio stations — Radio Gold and Radio XYZ.
According to GJA, the action that has the tendency of undermining press freedom in the country.
The two radio stations aligned the opposition National Democratic Congress were shut down by the NCA on Thursday afternoon.
NCA claimed that they were operating without valid authorisations.
In a statement, the Ghana Journalists Association urged the NCA to reverse the action and give the stations grace periods to make amends.
“GJA believes the action of the NCA has the tendency to undermine media freedom in Ghana as enshrined under Chapter 12 of the 1992 Constitution. We believe the framers of the 1992 Constitution had very good reasons to grant such elaborate freedoms to the media, although with responsibility. And nothing must be done to upstage the mindset of the constitutional framers.”
“In the light of the reasons cited above, the GJA calls on the NCA to immediately review its decision to close down the two Accra-based radio stations. We urge the NCA to give the two defaulting companies a lifeline to renew their authorization and operate”, the statement added.
Authorisation status of others
The GJA also asked the regulatory body to make public the authorization status of all other media outlets for the purpose of accountability.
“The decision by the NCA to close down the two radio stations for operating without authorization suggests that all other broadcasting stations in the country have valid authorization to operate. Without casting doubt on such possibility, it would be prudent for the NCA to, in the interest of transparency, and in order to elevate its decision above reproach, publish the authorisation status of all broadcast operators in the country. The NCA may not be under any legal obligation to do so but it is enjoined by public interest to act in such manner.”
What party activists said
At the time of the shutdown, Radio XYZ was transmitting the opposition NDC’s press conference addressed by the Council of Elders at the party headquarters in Accra.
Some party activists said the action by the NCA was politically motivated but the NCA said the shutdown was because the two private broadcasters had failed to renew their operating licenses after their expiration.
