President John Dramani Mahama has intervened in the suspension of over sixty radio stations across the country, directing the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation to work with the National Communications Authority (NCA) to restore the affected broadcasts without delay.
In a statement issued by the Presidency on Thursday, the President emphasized the importance of balancing regulatory enforcement with the protection of press freedom.
“The President believes that regulatory compliance must take into account the need to uphold and enhance media freedom,” the statement noted.
President Mahama further expressed concern that requiring media outlets to cease operations while waiting to regularize their authorization “could limit the space for expressing such freedoms.”
The NCA earlier this week announced an enforcement action that saw over 60 FM stations ordered to suspend operations for various regulatory infractions, sparking concerns among some sections of the public and civil society.
In response, President Mahama has asked the Communications Minister to collaborate with the NCA to establish a “reasonable timeframe” within which the affected radio stations may rectify their licensing status while remaining on air.
