Government pardons closed radio stations

The government has granted clemency to 64 radio stations recently ordered to go off air by the National Communications Authority (NCA).

A statement issued by the presidency said that while regulatory order is important, it must not come at the cost of media freedom.

It further directed the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation to collaborate with the NCA to immediately restore the broadcast of the affected radio stations.

The NCA had earlier instructed 64 radio stations to suspend broadcasting due to various regulatory breaches, including expired authorisations, unpaid fees, and incomplete setup processes.

According to the regulator, the shutdown followed a sector-wide audit and was intended to enforce compliance under Ghana’s Electronic Communications Act and Regulations.

However, the presidency asked NCA to determine a reasonable timeline for the affected stations to resolve their documentation and resume operations legally.

The NCA is expected to announce the next steps in line with this new directive.