The Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has clarified the regulatory responsibilities on television content.
He stated that the National Communication Authority (NCA) does not hold the mandate to regulate or license the content of television stations.
This clarification comes in the wake of concerns raised following the issuance of final warnings by the National Media Commission (NMC) to twelve television stations accused of broadcasting offensive content.
Among the stations implicated are Asomafo TV, Adwenpa TV, Diamond TV, and others, alleged to have aired content featuring fraudulent lotteries, occult practices, financial scams, ritualistic acts involving money, and explicit sexual materials.
The situation has prompted scrutiny of the NMC's licensing process and its efficacy in regulating content within the media landscape.
Speaking on the matter during the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday, Oppong Nkrumah underscored that the NCA's role is confined to spectrum management and authorisation, excluding content regulation.
According to Oppong Nkrumah, the NMC is the sole authority entrusted with overseeing the content broadcast on Ghanaian media platforms.
"The National Communications Authority is only responsible for spectrums and the authorisation to use spectrum but in terms of content, they have no say on the kind of content that you air.
"The National Media Commission (NMC) is responsible for the kind of content on our airwaves and our media," clarified Oppong Nkrumah.
To ensure adherence to the Ghana journalistic standard and the rules set by the Commission, the Ofoase Ayirebi MP emphasised that media houses must inform the authorities about the content they intend to produce before being granted access to electronic frequencies.
"Now, the draft of the broadcasting bill requires that for somebody to get access to electronic frequencies for media, that media house must serve notice of the content to the National Media Commission, which notice of content will then be commented on for NCA consideration.
"This process aims to assist individuals seeking access to media in meeting specific content criteria before NCA can consider their application and monitor the adherence of that media to the served notice," he explained.
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