The Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, has announced a 30-day grace period for radio stations recently shut down by the National Communications Authority (NCA), allowing them time to address regulatory breaches and return to the airwaves.
Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, Mr. George said the move comes at the instruction of President John Mahama, who directed the Ministry and the NCA to collaborate with affected stations to restore their operations.
“Mr. Speaker, a few minutes ago, His Excellency John Mahama directed that the Ministry work with the regulator at the NCA to allow all the affected radio stations some additional time to correct the identified breaches within a defined time frame,” the Minister stated.
He warned, however, that stations that fail to regularize their operations within the 30-day window risk having their authorizations formally revoked under existing regulations.
As part of what the Minister described as a more compassionate and democratic approach, the government has also waived all fines that would have been imposed on the stations.
“This is not the same as the arbitrary revocations and hefty fines imposed under the previous administration,” Mr. George emphasized.
“As a caring government, the Ministry has also been instructed to waive all the applicable fines.”
Earlier on Thursday, the NCA shut down 64 radio stations, including Asaase Radio, Happy FM, and Wontumi FM, for violating provisions of the Electronic Communications Regulations, 2011 (L.I. 1991), specifically Regulations 54 and 56.
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