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The government has given radio stations that were recently shut down by the National Communications Authority (NCA) a 30-day grace period to correct regulatory violations and reopen, according to Samuel Nartey George, Minister for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovation.
Speaking to Parliament on Thursday, June 12, Mr. George stated that the decision was made in response to a directive earlier in the day from President John Mahama, who gave the ministry and the NCA instructions to work together to restore services to the impacted media outlets.
“Mr. Speaker, a few minutes ago, His Excellency John Mahama directed that the Ministry work with the regulator at the NCA to allow all the affected radio stations some additional time to correct the identified breaches within a defined time frame,” the minister said.
According to current legislation, stations that do not regularize their authorizations within the allotted 30-day period will be formally revoked, he noted.
However, the Minister stated that all fines that would have been imposed on the stations have been waived as part of what the administration describes as a more democratic and humanitarian approach.
“This is not the same as the arbitrary revocations and hefty fines imposed under the previous administration,” he told the House.
“As a caring government, the Ministry has also been instructed to waive all the applicable fines.”
64 radio stations, including Asaase Radio, Happy FM, and Wontumi FM, were shut down by the NCA on Thursday for violating parts of the Electronic Communications Regulations, 2011 (L.I. 1991), specifically Regulations 54 and 56.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
