The Minister for Communications, Samuel Nartey George, has announced that radio stations recently shut down by the National Communications Authority (NCA) have been granted a 30-day grace period to rectify outstanding regulatory breaches.
He emphasised that failure to comply within the stipulated timeframe would result in the stations being shut down again.
In a Facebook post following President John Dramani Mahama’s intervention, the Ningo-Prampram MP stated:
"The President has asked that the National Communications Authority, Ghana, show clemency to the defaulting media houses. We have complied and issued a 30-day grace period.
Let the facts, however, show that this action was in line with the law and not arbitrary. We would apply the law after the grace period."
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The decision offers a temporary reprieve to the affected stations, which had been ordered to cease operations over various regulatory breaches.
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.