Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko, NCA Boss
The National Communications Authority (NCA) has suspended the operations of nine (9) radio stations for regulatory breaches following the expiration of a 30-day grace period granted by President John Mahama for defaulting stations.
In a statement issued on August 12, 2025, the NCA said the stations failed, refused and neglected to comply with the regulatory requirements.
President John Dramani Mahama, in June, directed the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation to liaise with the National Communications Authority to restore the licences of 64 radio stations whose operations were suspended.
According to the President, the directive by the Ministry of Communications could stifle press freedom, hence the need to restore their licences while awaiting regularisation of their operations.
Government subsequently granted additional 30-day grace period to 18 radio stations that were shut down by the National Communications Authority, for efforts made to address the regulatory breaches that led to their closure.
But according to government, “Whereas many of the violating stations took steps to remedy breaches during the amnesty period, three stations failed to remedy some of the breaches including unauthorised use of Studio-Transmitter Link (STL) frequencies and unapproved transmitter locations.”
Consequently, the operations of the following stations have been suspended for operating without a certificate of compliance in violation of Regulation 54 of the Electronic Communications Regulations, 2011, LI, 1991.
The media houses include Don Plus Multimedia Limited, Ho; Dreams Ghana Media Limited, New Abirem; Jam Multimedia Limited, Kintampo; Jewel Group Limited, Duayaw Nkwanta; Kpandai Community Radio, Kpandai and Unique Gateway Communication Limited, Nkawkaw, as well as three radio stations belonging to the Wontumi Group located in Kumasi, Takoradi and Accra.
It further stated that the NCA will continue to monitor the broadcasting space to ensure compliance with the relevant authorisation conditions as well as the laws and regulations governing the operations of broadcast services in Ghana.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah