Ghana: Mahama intervenes to save 64 radio stations
In a move signaling a renewed commitment to press freedom, President John Dramani Mahama has stepped in to halt the shutdown of 64 radio stations across Ghana, ordering the immediate restoration of their broadcasts.
The President has instructed the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation to coordinate with the National Communications Authority (NCA) and ensure the affected stations are back on air while working toward the regularisation of their licenses.
“Requiring radio stations to shut down while awaiting the regularisation of their authorisation could limit the space for expressing such freedoms,” President Mahama stated in a directive conveyed through his spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu. He emphasized that while regulatory compliance is important, it must be balanced with the constitutional right to free expression and media pluralism.
NCA’s Enforcement Push
The NCA’s recent clampdown on non-compliant radio stations had led to the suspension of operations for dozens of broadcasters. The regulator cited licensing irregularities as grounds for its action, part of a broader effort to enforce broadcast standards and manage the nation’s frequency spectrum.
However, the decision drew criticism from civil society groups, media advocates, and press freedom campaigners, who warned that the closures threatened to create a chilling effect on Ghana’s once-vibrant media landscape.
The issue touches a nerve in a country where radio remains a primary source of information for many citizens, particularly in rural areas. Over the years, the medium has become not just a tool for news dissemination, but also a platform for political discourse, public education, and community engagement.
Mahama’s Approach: Balance Rules with Rights
President Mahama’s call for clemency is not a blanket dismissal of regulatory authority, but rather a plea for proportionality. He has urged the Minister and the NCA to agree on a “reasonable timeframe” within which the affected stations can bring their documentation into compliance.
Media analysts see the move as both a political and principled stand. While it signals Mahama’s alignment with free speech values, it also comes amid increasing scrutiny of the state’s handling of media freedoms in recent years.
Read the statement below.
