Media Foundation requests for list of shutdown radio stations from NCA
The Media Foundation for West Africa has requested from the National Communications Authority, a list of radio stations shut down by the regulator.
In a letter to the NCA, the media watchdog said it was exercising rights provided under the Right to Information Act.
The letter obtained by theghanareport.com said “the following are the specific pieces of information I write to request:
- The full list of all authorised FM stations as of the second quarter of 2020, indicating the dates of first authorisation, dates of last authorisation renewals, locations, and operational status (on air or off air).
- The full list of all authorised television stations as of the second quarter of 2020, indicating dates of first authorisation, dates of last authorisation renewals, locations and operational status.
- An explanation for the recent replacement of your published 2020 second quarter report titled: “List of Authorised VHF-FM Radio Stations in Ghana as it Second Quarter 2020” which contained columns for date of first authorisation and date for last authorisation renewal, with one that now excludes the dates of first authorisation and dates of last authorisation renewals.
According to the NCA, it has given frequency authorisations to 471 FM Radio Broadcasting Stations in Ghana.
“Out of the total number of authorized FM Broadcasting Stations, 367 stations are operational as at 30th September, 2017″, its website reads.
Earlier in 2019, several radio stations were shut down by the NCA who claimed these stations were operating without valid authorisation.
The stations, Radio XYZ and Radio Gold, are both owned by persons affiliated to the opposition NDC.
In 2019, the Communications Ministry has said 57 radio stations were closed down for various infractions after the NCA audit. Only 27 of them have not re-applied for fresh authorisation while the rest are at various stages of renewing their licences.
The latest closure happened on February 5, 2020 when the National Communications Authority (NCA), suspended the operations of Radio Tongu, a privately-owned station based in the Volta region of Ghana.
The NCA cited national security and public interest as the grounds for the suspension in accordance with Section 13 (1) of Ghana’s Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775).