Radio Gold, XYZ shut down bad judgement – Gyampo

Professor Ransford Gyampo has condemned the timing of the decision by the National Communications Authority (NCA) to shut down Radio Gold and Radio XYZ.

The NCA, which is a regulator of spectrum in the country, on Thursday stormed the premises of the two opposition affiliated stations and shut them down as they were broadcasting live a press event by the NDC’s council of elders – over failure to renew their licenses.

“Radio stations operating without valid authorisations as determined by the 2017 FM Broadcasting Audit are being shut down with immediate effect as enforcement action in view of the decision of the Electronic Communications Tribunal,” the NCA said.

However, in a statement the University of Ghana lecturer said the move is an exercise of a bad sense of timing.

“We cannot allow Radio stations to operate without requisite licenses. I am of the firm belief and conviction that those who seek to ensure that politicians do the right thing, must themselves operate within the confines of rules. But whoever ordered the shutdown of the radio stations at this crucial time, when our international rating on press freedom has reportedly gone down; and more importantly, when the political temperature of the country seem to be rising, has no good judgement and proper sense of timing. Couldn’t this have been deferred to next week? A bad thing, is a good thing done at the wrong time,” he wrote.