President John Mahama has directed the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovation to work with the National Communications Authority (NCA) to immediately restore the broadcast of sixty-four radio stations that were recently shut down due to regulatory issues.
The President’s directive, communicated through his spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu, calls for the immediate reinstatement of the affected stations while urging a more measured and rights-conscious approach to regulatory enforcement.
“The President believes that regulatory compliance must take into account the need to uphold and enhance media freedom,” the statement read. “Requiring radio stations to shut down while awaiting the regularisation of their authorisation could limit the space for expressing such freedoms.”
This intervention follows an earlier NCA enforcement action that ordered 64 FM stations off-air over a range of licensing breaches—including operating with expired authorisations and failure to pay relevant authorisation fees.
According to the NCA, the enforcement is being rolled out in phases, beginning with stations identified in the Frequency Audit Report. The infractions identified in the first phase include:
Twenty-eight (28) FM stations operating with expired authorisations, despite prior orders issued in 2024 to cease broadcasting. These stations remain on air in violation of Section 2(4) of the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775).
Fourteen (14) FM stations that were issued Notices of Revocation for failing to commence operations within two years of receiving authorisation. Although they have since requested inspections, various lapses have stalled the process — yet these stations continue to broadcast, contravening Regulation 54.
Thirteen (13) FM stations with Provisional Authorisations who have not settled the requisite fees in full, and therefore lack valid authorisations to operate. This again breaches Section 2(4) of Act 775.
Seven (7) FM stations that have paid provisional fees but have not yet been issued final authorisations due to non-fulfilment of Regulation 54 requirements.