In a significant move to uphold media freedom and support democratic values, President John Dramani Mahama has directed immediate action for the restoration of sixty-four (64) radio stations whose broadcasts were suspended by the National Communications Authority (NCA).
A statement issued by the Presidency Communications Directorate and signed by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Minister for Government Communications and spokesperson to the President, announced that President Mahama has instructed the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation to liaise with the NCA to reinstate the affected stations.
President Mahama emphasized that while regulatory compliance remains important, such enforcement must also consider the broader implications for media freedom. According to the statement, requiring stations to shut down while awaiting authorisation regularisation could curtail freedom of expression — a core tenet of democratic governance.
“The President believes that regulatory compliance must take into account the need to uphold and enhance media freedom,” the statement read. “He has asked the Minister to work with the NCA on a reasonable timeframe within which the affected stations should regularise their authorisation.”
This directive is being hailed by media advocacy groups as a timely intervention to protect press freedom and ensure that administrative processes do not unintentionally suppress diverse voices within the media space.
The NCA has yet to issue an official response, but stakeholders in the media industry are expected to meet with government representatives in the coming days to discuss a roadmap for compliance that safeguards both regulatory integrity and the right to free expression.
