The National Communications Authority (NCA) has rubbished claims by ex-President John Dramani Mahama that the government might shut down internet services on Election Day on December 7.
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) flag bearer told TV XYZ last Sunday that the NCA deliberately took off the frequency of the Kumasi-based Abusua FM which had advertised a scheduled interview show with him.
He added that he was also aware that the NCA did a similar thing to Joy FM when the radio station decided it was going to broadcast an investigative piece on the National Lotteries Authority.
“I think on Election Day they can shut down the internet or any of the things dictators do. I hope we win and stop all that,” Mr. Mahama stated without giving any proof.
However, the NCA described the claims of the former President as completely unfounded and accordingly urged Ghanaians to disregard the remarks.
The NCA, in a statement issued on Monday, said the accusation was also wholly false, as the NCA did not have the capability to block, jam or interfere with broadcasting signals.
“As a telecommunications and broadcasting regulator, and in line with global best practice, the NCA has frequency spectrum monitoring equipment whose ability is limited to receiving signals and detecting their source, but not to jam them,” the authority said.
“Where necessary, Section 13 of ECA, 2008, Act 775 provides the basis and procedure for shutting down a radio communication service provider. The NCA serves notices and subsequently physically closes the facilities down and then monitors thereafter for compliance,” the Authority explained.
The statement added that “the NCA does not interfere in the work of its broadcasting and Internet Service Licencees. On the contrary, the NCA assists them to promptly resolve cases of interference when they arise.”
The Authority again said a break in transmission of a documentary by the Accra-based Joy FM, “which was, apparently, experienced on multiple digital platforms on the night of November 18, 2020 was also erroneously attributed by some to deliberate interference by the NCA.”
Internet Communications interference
The statement indicated that as part of its mandate, the NCA had licenced several categories of service providers to deliver internet connectivity to Ghana, and said they included Internet Service Providers, Broadband Wireless Access Service Providers and Mobile Network Operators (MNOs).
“There are also multiple international undersea fibre optic cables and several satellite systems which provide Ghana with access to the Internet. The NCA does not have access or ‘keys’ to any of these networks, and therefore cannot remotely shut the internet down.”
The Authority further explained that to block the internet or restrict access to a particular website, all submarine cable companies, MNOs and other service providers would have to agree to do so.
“The Authority has not directed any of its licencees to shut the Internet down on Election Day as claimed in the news report, and there is no intention to do so,” it noted.
The Authority advised licencees to report outages or cases of interference to the NCA for prompt investigation and resolution, and not misinform their audiences and clients.
By Ernest Kofi Adu