The National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) constituency Secretary for Talensi in the Upper East Region, Solomon TTB, has described the National Communications Authority’s decision to shut down the 133 radio stations in the country in the first place, as being ‘ politically motivated’.
Mr. TTB argued that the fact that the pro-NDC radio stations were affected by the move means the government of the day was behind it.
He asserted that some pro-NPP radio stations had similar challenges to these stations but were not closed down.
He said the revocation of the licenses of those radio stations was a stain on press freedom.
He was commenting on the NCA’s resolve to approve the licensing of the 133 radio stations in the country on Tuesday after initially closing them down in May 2018.
Mr. TTB spoke exclusively on the ‘Daybreak Upper East’ show on A1 Radio.
“Key among the radio stations that they had closed, was Radio Gold, Radio XYZ which are a bit affiliated to the NDC; just like Oman FM and Net2 TV who are also related to the NPP. Oman FM and others were equally having similar problems but they were left off the hook. So this particular move that was done by the NPP, we and a lot of Ghanaians felt it was politically motivated. That particular move was completely needless. It was a move that amounted to suppress media freedom”, he asserted.
He added that the NCA decision to grant license approval to the affected radio stations was born out of pressure mounted on it by the NDC.
But responding to Mr. TTB’s assertion, communications team member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Samuel Akonga sharply disagrees.
To him, Mr. TTB erred, as the closure of the pro-NDC stations, notably, Radio Gold and Radio XYZ were as a result of their inability to comply with broadcasting rules and regulations.
He stated that the affected radio stations committed a crime by not complying with the regulations.
“That argument that the government closed down all the radio stations that belong to the NDC is flawed; it is completely flawed. For the past ten years that Radio Gold has been operating without a license, they didn’t see it necessary to renew their license? It means that that is even criminal because if you know that your contract license has expired and you have not gone to renew it, your vehicle license has expired and you haven’t gone to renew the license of the vehicle, it is criminal.” Mr. Akonga retorted.
It could be recalled that some 133 radio stations, including Radio Gold and Radio XYZ, were closed down by the National Communications Authority for breaching various broadcasting regulations.
The NCA and the Communication Ministry came under fire from sections of the Ghanaian public, with some suggesting the move was a threat to Media freedom.
The NCA in a statement on Tuesday, October 12, 2021, granted all the affected stations licenses to operate in accordance with the rules and regulations governing electronic media.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Elijah Beyeni Yenibey
