The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) is demanding from the National Communications Authority (NCA) a full publication of the authorization status of all radio stations in the country.
This follows government’s shutdown of some two radio stations –Radio Gold and Radio XYZ — which have been accused of operating over the years without valid authorisation.
Critics have said, the NCA’s sanction was politically motivated because the owners of the affected stations are believed to be aligned to the opposition National Democratic Congress.
GJA in a statement urged the regulatory body to make public the authorization status of all other media outlets to clear any negative perception.
“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.”
The GJA also urged the NCA to reverse the action and give the stations some time to make amends.
“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.
Radio Gold, Radio XYZ shutdown not politically motivated – Oppong Nkrumah
The Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah earlier denied claims that the shutdown of the two stations meant a political vendetta.
He said the exercise cuts across all users of electronic spectrum who are operating without the right authorization and not a specifically targeted user.
“I am very sure some persons would speculate that this exercise appears to be an action against the two radio stations that may appear to be unaligned to the current administration. But the brief I have is that, this exercise cuts across various user of spectrums who have been cautioned that they had been operating without authorization for some years now. And this exercise has been going on for a year now,” he said.