President John Dramani Mahama has stepped in to prevent the shutdown of four radio stations, following a directive from the National Communications Authority (NCA) that ordered the closure of 62 stations over regulatory breaches.
In a press release issued on June 12, 2025, the presidency confirmed that Mahama had instructed the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovation to work with the NCA to restore the broadcast operations of the affected stations.
Balancing Regulation and Press Freedom
The NCA’s decision to suspend the operations of multiple radio stations was based on licensing infractions, including expired authorizations and failure to settle provisional fees. However, Mahama emphasized that while regulatory compliance is necessary, it must be balanced with the protection of media freedom.
“Requiring radio stations to shut down while awaiting the regularization of their authorization could limit the space for expressing such freedoms,” the statement read.
Government’s Next Steps
Mahama has directed the Communications Minister, Samuel Nartey George, to liaise with the NCA and establish a reasonable timeframe for the affected stations to regularize their authorization.
The intervention has been welcomed by media stakeholders, who argue that press freedom must be safeguarded, even as regulatory standards are enforced.
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