Group meets diplomats over closure of FM stations
The free Media Vanguard, a civil pressure group has been petitioning some embassies in Accra as part of plans to put pressure on the government to reverse the shutdown of some private radio stations.
The National Communications Authority, NCA, in the last few days shut down several radio stations, some of which are deemed to be operating without valid licenses.
However, management of the media houses have accused the government of unfair treatment, arguing that they were affected due to their affiliation to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Convener of Free Media Vanguard, Prince Minkah in an interview with Citi News said they will not relent until government reverses the action.
“My colleagues and I are on our way to see the diplomatic community in the country. We are targeting the United States of America, the Canadian embassy and the British high commission. We are also going to see some of our West African brothers, we are looking at Nigeria and Togo. The meeting with the diplomatic community is hinged on getting pressure from these foreign community to trigger the government to put a stop to suppression of press freedom in a country noted for freedom of the press,” he said.
The civil pressure group has also given indications that after the petition it will embark on a street demonstration tomorrow [Wednesday] to march in protest of what it says is the attempt by political authorities to suppress media freedom in Ghana.
It last Friday organised a vigil service at the forecourt of Radio Gold in Accra.
The Group’s series of actions come on the back of the closure of five pro-opposition radio stations in Accra; Radio Gold and Radio XYZ, Ahafo Region; Nananom FM and Genesis FM as well as Sekpele FM at Likpe in the Oti Region.
The National Communications Authority (NCA) had insisted that the closures are due to non-compliance with the laid down licence regulations.But Prince Minka who is also the host of Radio XYZ’s morning show, told Citi News that their actions will help the public understand the exigency of the time.“Getting the public involved, and getting them to hear our side of the story will give them a better appreciation of the kind of times that we are in where it appears the political authority is using state institutions to suppress freedom. Beyond what happened to Radio XYZ and Radio Gold, there are other instances that point to that particular direction.”