Audio By Carbonatix
The Minority Leader has indicated he will file a motion to haul the National Communications Authority (NCA) before parliament to answer questions over the shutdown of some radio stations.
Haruna Iddrisu said the Authority needs to provide detailed information on the state of all radio stations in the country.
“Which other entities are guilty of these infractions?” the Tamale South MP quizzed on MultiTV/Joy FM’s news analysis programme Newsfile, Saturday.
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.
The Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) has also accused the Authority of high handedness.
Legislator for the governing NPP, Dr Bernard Okoe Boye, has also criticised the decision by NCA to shut down two pro-opposition radio stations.
The Ledzokuku MP believes such a decision has the potential to cause disaffection for the Party and by extension, President Akufo-Addo.
“We don’t want a vicious cycle, let’s apply innovative ways…it is not government business to close or silence either radio stations or individuals but the way we go about can send a signal which is opposite,” the MP stated on Peace FM’s morning show ‘Kokrokoo’, Friday.
This, the Tamale South MP agrees. He goes ahead to describe the NCA as acting in such a “politically targeted” manner.
“The only way the NCA can explain is to demonstrate that they did same to other FM stations which are also affected or they are about to do same to other stations.
“...At Parliament’s first sitting, I will file a question demanding all these details to enrich the jurisprudence of media practice in Ghana,” he added.
Latest Stories
-
Mohammed Kudus drops out of Ghana squad for AFCON 2027 qualifiers against Côte d’Ivoire and Gambia
22 minutes -
Africa World Airlines unveils first Embraer E190 as part of 10-aircraft fleet expansion
2 hours -
Civilian hospitalised after alleged machete attack by prison officers, inmates
2 hours -
Toobu rejects calls to recall Parliament over 3.9-tonne cocaine shipment
2 hours -
Residents in 5 Northern Regions warned of approaching rainstorm
3 hours -
Constituency Games still a work in progress – Sports Minister
3 hours -
Team Ghana set for historic Karting Africa Showrun in Angola
3 hours -
52-year-old South African arrested with suspected heroin after arriving from Accra
3 hours -
Shatta Wale challenges UPSA students to build entrepreneurial mindsets
4 hours -
Finance Minister advises African governments to strengthen regional tax cooperation
5 hours -
NPP accuses NDC of master-minding demolition of Ho regional office fence
5 hours -
Ghana plans stronger regional power trade with Nigeria
5 hours -
GRA Commissioner-General calls for stronger tax cooperation to boost regional revenue mobilisation
5 hours -
NACOC needs more personnel to tackle drug trafficking – Toobu
5 hours -
Railway workers resist KMA eviction order, demand consultation
5 hours