The Minister for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, has announced a 30-day grace period for non-compliant FM radio stations to rectify breaches in their operations, following a nationwide forensic audit by the National Communications Authority (NCA).
This directive, issued in line with President John Dramani Mahama’s call for clemency, targets stations operating with expired, invalid, or improperly renewed authorisations, ensuring compliance with regulations governing Ghana’s national spectrum.
In a statement delivered to Parliament on Thursday, June 12, 2025, the minister detailed the NCA’s audit, initiated on February 12, 2025, shortly after he assumed office.
“The objective of the audit was to produce an accurate and up-to-date inventory of all assigned, unassigned, and unauthorised frequencies in Ghana,” he explained.
The audit, according to the minister, revealed over 600 active radio stations, many in violation of the Electronic Communications Regulations, L.I. 1991, and the Electronic Communications Act, Act 775 of 2008.
The minister emphasised that the exercise aimed to address underutilised frequencies and enforce action against unlawful broadcasting, noting, “This is part of our sacred duty to manage state assets with integrity.”
He added that the audit uncovered significant non-compliance across several categories of stations.
A notable group includes 128 FM stations operating with expired authorisations, despite NCA directives to cease broadcasting in 2024.
“These actions constitute a violation of Section 3 of the Electronic Communications Act, Act 775 of 2008,” the minister stated.
Another 14 FM stations received revocation notices for failing to establish operations within the mandatory two-year period and continued broadcasting without completing technical inspections, breaching Regulation 54 of L.I. 1991.
Additionally, the minister said 13 FM stations with provisional authorisations have not paid the required fees, rendering their operations invalid under Section 2(4) of Act 775.
Lastly, the minister listed seven FM stations that paid provisional fees but have yet to meet technical and regulatory requirements for final authorisation under Regulation 54 of L.I. 1991.
Affected stations include Life World Broadcast Limited in Offinso (94.3 FM), Victory FM in Aflao (96.1 FM), Ghana Institute of Journalism in Accra (97.7 FM), Forum Ghana Limited in Akwatia (88.1 FM), and Global Media Alliance in Accra (98.9 FM), among others.
The 30-day grace period, effective immediately, according to the minister, allows defaulting stations to rectify their breaches, failing which their authorisations will be revoked. '
“In line with this directive from His Excellency the President, the Ministry and the NCA have granted a further 30-day grace period to all defaulting entities,” the minister said.
To encourage compliance, the minister announced that all applicable fines have been waived, distinguishing this approach from the “arbitrary revocations and hefty fines” of the previous administration.
“We urge the defaulting media houses to take advantage of the president’s clemency for 30 days,” he added.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to a fair and modern broadcasting sector, the minister emphasised, “Our fight is not against free speech; it is against lawlessness, asset misappropriation, and regulatory defiance.”
In response to the minister's statement, the Minority Caucus, led by Alexander Afenyo-Markin, accused the government of engaging on a politically targeted expedition, as the exercise has impacted the operations of some media houses linked to the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He cited the case of Asaase Radio and Wontumi Radio, both owned by leading NPP member Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko and Ashanti NPP Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, alias Wontumi, respectively.
GA/BAI
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