The Head of the University of Ghana's Department of Communication has advised the National Communications Authority (NCA) to limit the number of frequencies assigned to an individual in a media entity.

Dr Abena Animwaa Yeboah-Banin said Ghana’s current media landscape is presented on paper as plural but on the ground that most of these media outlets are part of a bigger conglomerate.

This, she said makes it easy for one agenda to be pushed across all media thereby distorting the idea of diversity.

“I think we are at that point where we need to cap how many frequencies are going into the hands of one person or business.

"If you know who is behind media, if the identities of those who own media are being published openly then again we can also take an interest in helping the regulator to make sure that not too many platforms are awarded to one person.

“If we are going to take any interest in capping how many frequencies go to each person so there is more diversity in the space,” she made this comment whiles contributing to the Joy Change-Speakers Series V on July 8.

She explained that the NCA can address this if they take a keen interest in the individual licenses assigned - adding that these checks will prevent one person from owning more than 30 media outlets.

Making reference to a discovery the department of communication made whilst putting together the State of the Ghanaian report, she said, “What we saw was that if I have been awarded a license by NCA and I decide that I no longer be able to use it, I transfer it and I notify the NCA.

"That being the case, the person  who already owns 30 platforms is in a position to be able to acquire the 31st  platform rather than it going into another hand so that there is more diversity,”

On the back of this, she called for amendment in the operation of the NCA to enable them to cap the current trend where individuals who build empires out of the media.