News:
March 26, 2025
Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation Samuel Nartey George has hinted that sixty-three radio stations would have their frequencies suspended of which six have had theirs suspended.
According to him, unlike the immediate past government they would not revoke the licenses of the radio stations and with the first six to have their frequencies suspended, he would come before Parliament to brief the House.
Addressing the Parliamentary Press Corps he noted that he is already engaging the Ghana Independent Broadcast Association and the Media Foundation for West Africa, as they are already in line with the process being undertaken.
“We cannot have a situation where media house would default the regulations and say that because of press freedom the condition of their licenses would not be met”.
And further added that, President Mahama has intervened and ask that they wave all those finds; some are four million Ghana cedis, “we are waving and giving them a time frame to remedy their situation.”
The Communications Minister affirmed that he has authorized the revocation of radio licenses by the NCC of only one radio station, Gooma FM, “and I did that on the national security consideration. I did not just wake up and do that, I got the request from the Ministry of Interior on behalf of National Security that there were commentaries on that frequency that have huge security implications in Bawku and I wrote back to the Ministry of the Interior telling them I do not take instructions on the shut down or revocation from national security, that I would only take that action if I saw a layer of process that was done and so Interior Ministry went back to local government and had the regional minister convene regional security decision and the minute of which they met took their decision through the Local Government Minister to the Interior”.
According to him, another letter was done and sent to the Communications Ministry, “before I wrote to the NCA ten days from the original date given to the day when I gave the authorization. Unfortunately during that period seven people were killed. So when people say I acted anyhow, no, I followed the process through and when I am acting on the basis of national security”.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com