A private legal practitioner has said the decision by the National Communication Authority (NCA) to shut down Lartebiokorshie-based Radio Gold lacks tact.

Martin Kpebu says considering that the station has become “a colossus” in the country’s political landscape, they ought to be treated with some respect.

Network Broadcasting Limited (Radio Gold) the was granted Authorisation to operate a commercial FM Station in Accra on the frequency of 90.5MHz on October 3, 1995.

“We are all political animals and one cannot run away from the conspiracy theories...and going about it in that fashion reinforces the textbook notion of government looking for subtle ways to control the media and especially gag opposition,” he said. According to the legal practitioner, they should have known better not to add to the rising political temperature with the NDC National Chairman saga with the CID already boiling.

He argued that President Akufo-Addo has been involved in several cases during his legal practice in which he defended media freedom and it is surprising such things are happening under his watch.

“So, for Akufo-Addo to now become President and have the NCA doing this is like a slap in the face,” he told host, Samson Lardy Anyenini, host of Joy News’ news analysis programme Newsfile, Saturday.

Citing 1 Cor 10:23 [All things are lawful but not all things are helpful, All things are lawful but not all things build up] he argued that not all the laws can be implemented.

Joseph Anokye is head of NCA

“Some of them you have to exercise tact and good judgement but I find that lacking in this particular case,” he said.

His comment comes after NCA officials stormed the premises of the two station with armed security personnel and ordered their immediate closure on Thursday.

The shutdown is the latest move by the regulator to clamp down on radio stations operating without valid authorizations. The action, according to the NCA, was an enforcement of the decision of the Electronic Communications Tribunal which includes closing down radio stations operating without valid authorisations. Some affected radio stations, Radio Gold and Radio XYZ are contesting the basis for the shutdown. The NCA’s action has widely been condemned by many including the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) which says the action has the tendency to undermine media freedom in the country and has called for an immediate review of that decision.   Adding his voice to the unfair treatment by the regulator, Mr Kpebu said the NCA’s lack of understanding of its own laws culminated into a loss when they were sued.  Also, he said the timing of the shutdown when the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Council of Elders were holding a press conference leaves much to be desired.