Follow due process to get your station back on-air – Akufo-Addo to closed radio stations

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has asked managers of radio stations which were closed down by the National Communications Authority (NCA) to follow due process as they seek to get back their radio frequencies.

He expressed his shock that these radio stations remain off-air more than a year after their licences were revoked.

During a meeting with the leadership of various political parties at the Jubilee House, Friday afternoon, to discuss how to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, the president pointed out that “the law is clear” and must be followed.

The president’s comments came after he had been asked by Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to grant these radio stations “amnesty” to operate.

Ofosu-Ampofo said winning the COVID-19 fight will largely depend on how the citizenry are educated, therefore, it would be necessary for the closed-down radio stations to come on board to offer such education to their listeners who are largely NDC faithful.

In response, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said, he did not order the NCA to shut down Radio Gold and Radio XYZ, therefore, he could not grant any “amnesty” for them to operate.

"I am surprised about the amnesty for the radio stations, the law is very clear on why they have been closed down, they were not closed down by me so it is difficult for me to be the one to unlock them. The procedures are there, I am surprised almost a year these procedures have not been used to get back on track, they need to engage the NMC and use all procedures available," he said.

Radio Gold and Radio XYZ were closed down by the National Communications Authority, the regulator, for failing to renew their operating licences.

The NCA’s action has since been strengthened by a judgement of the Electronic Communications Tribunal which includes closing down radio stations operating without valid authorization.