The National Communications Authority (NCA) has ordered the immediate closure of 62 radio stations for regulatory breaches.
Among the stations affected are Wontumi FM, Happy FM, Asaase Radio, and others.
For Asaase Radio, Gabby Asare Otchere Darko has explained that the station delayed in renewing its license last year.
"It was to be renewed by October but only done in December 2024," he stated in a post on x
Yes, it’s true. Asaase Radio 99.5, which celebrates its 5th anniversary Saturday, has been shut down. The General Manager informs me it’s because the station delayed in renewing its licence last year. It was to be renewed by October but only done in December 2024.
— Gabby Otchere-Darko (@GabbyDarko) June 12, 2025
The shut down of the multiple radio stations in Ghana are for various reasons, including regulatory breaches, failure to renew licenses, operating without valid authorisation, and exceeding permitted transmission and none payment of licensing fee.
Following the directive, the NCA has immediately commenced enforcing the regulatory sanctions against the defaulting entities.
There are 28 stations operating with expired authorisations. Some of them were ordered by the NCA in 2024 to cease broadcasting but have persisted in the illegality in breach of Regulation 2 (4 )of the Electronic Communications Act 2008.
There are 14 other radio stations that were issued with notices of revocation for failing to set up within two years from the date of authorisation but subsequently requested for inspection but the process has not been completed due to various lapses they have to rectify but are still on air. Those stations are in violation of Regulation 54 of the Electronic Communications Regulations 2011.
Another group of 13 stations that have applied for authorisation to continue operation and have been issued with authorisation but have not settled the provisional authorisation fee in full and hence do not have the valid authorisation to continue operating.
Seven other stations have paid their provisional authorisation fee but final authorisation is yet to be issued and have not fulfilled the requirement of Regulation 54.
All the affected stations numbering 62 do not currently hold valid authorisation to commence operation and may only resume operations once all regulatory infractions have been addressed and rectified.
