The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has praised President John Dramani Mahama for his intervention in halting the shutdown of 64 radio stations across the country.
The stations, which had faced revocation of their frequency authorizations due to regulatory breaches, were granted a reprieve following the President’s directive to the National Communications Authority (NCA).
In a statement, the GJA acknowledged that while regulatory compliance is essential, shutting down multiple radio stations could have severe social and economic consequences, including job losses and restrictions on media freedom.
The association emphasized that President Mahama’s decision to temper enforcement with clemency demonstrates his commitment to media pluralism and freedom of expression.
The affected stations had been cited for infractions such as failure to renew authorizations, non-payment of fees, and exceeding permitted transmission limits.
However, the President directed the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation to work with the NCA to establish a reasonable timeframe for the stations to regularize their operations.
The GJA urged the affected media houses to take advantage of the grace period to comply with regulatory requirements and avoid future sanctions.
It also called for greater transparency in the enforcement of broadcasting regulations, suggesting that the NCA publish the compliance status of all radio and television stations.
President Mahama’s intervention has been widely welcomed by media stakeholders, with many viewing it as a positive step toward balancing regulation with press freedom.
The directive is expected to provide relief to broadcasters, particularly in areas where local radio remains the primary source of news and public information
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