The closure of Wontumi radio stations - A threat to Ghana's democracy

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• Buhari 3 months ago

  Wontumi Radio à poison snake threat to peace in Ghana. A tool for Ashanti insult of the Republic of Ghana. It must be neutralised.

  Wontumi Radio à poison snake threat to peace in Ghana. A tool for Ashanti insult of the Republic of Ghana. It must be neutralised.

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• Kona 3 months ago

  NDC does not practice what it preaches. NCA is being manipulated to silence all dissenting voices against the NDC. So called human rights activists during NPP regime have closed their eyes to human rights abuses either for or ...
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  NDC does not practice what it preaches. NCA is being manipulated to silence all dissenting voices against the NDC. So called human rights activists during NPP regime have closed their eyes to human rights abuses either for or in anticipation of political appointments or contracts.

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• Patrick 3 months ago

  Rebuttal: Regulatory Enforcement Is Not Democratic Erosion
  
  To claim that the closure of Wontumi radio stations is a threat to Ghana’s democracy is not only misleading—it dangerously conflates lawful regulatory enforcem ...
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  Rebuttal: Regulatory Enforcement Is Not Democratic Erosion
  
  To claim that the closure of Wontumi radio stations is a threat to Ghana’s democracy is not only misleading—it dangerously conflates lawful regulatory enforcement with political suppression. The National Communications Authority (NCA) did not act arbitrarily or in response to editorial content. It acted under Regulation 54 of the Electronic Communications Regulations, 2011 (L.I. 1991), which prohibits operating without a valid Certificate of Compliance.
  
  The stations in question—95.9 FM in Accra, 101.3 FM in Kumasi, and 101.3 FM in Takoradi—were cited for:
  - Unauthorized use of Studio-to-Transmitter Link (STL) frequencies
  - Operating from unapproved transmitter locations
  - Failing to comply within a 30-day grace period granted by the President himself
  
  This was not a silencing of dissent. It was a failure to meet basic legal obligations that apply to all broadcasters, regardless of political affiliation. In fact, six other stations across Ghana were also suspended for similar violations—proving that enforcement was systemic, not selective.
  
  Democracy Requires Lawfulness
  
  Democracy thrives not just on free speech, but on rule of law. Media freedom is essential—but so is media responsibility. Operating without compliance undermines the integrity of the broadcasting landscape and sets a dangerous precedent where influence trumps accountability.
  
  To defend non-compliance under the banner of democracy is to erode the very principles that protect it.
  
  Equal Enforcement Is Democratic Strength
  The NCA’s actions demonstrate that no entity is above the law, not even politically affiliated media houses. That is not a threat to democracy—it is a sign of its health. Selective enforcement would be the real danger. Equal enforcement, even when politically inconvenient, is a safeguard.
  
  In conclusion, the suspension of Wontumi radio stations is not a democratic crisis—it is a regulatory correction. Ghana’s democracy is not threatened by lawful enforcement. It is threatened when we allow political narratives to override legal standards. Let us not confuse compliance with censorship, nor accountability with oppression.

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