The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has praised President John Dramani Mahama for intervening to stop the closure of 64 radio stations across the country.
The National Communications Authority (NCA) had planned the shutdown due to various regulatory violations, including expired licenses, unapproved operations, and unpaid authorisation fees.
President Steps In to Protect Media Freedom
President Mahama directed the Minister of Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovation to collaborate with the NCA and suspend the planned closures. The GJA sees this move as a timely decision that prevented a potential crisis in the media industry.
In a statement released on Friday, the GJA stressed that closing so many stations, even with legitimate regulatory concerns, would have caused massive job losses and disrupted vital public services. “We agree with the President that shutting down the radio stations may seriously undermine media freedom and freedom of expression,” the Association stated.
Balancing Regulation with Media Freedom
The GJA lauded President Mahama for balancing law enforcement with compassion. According to the Association, this decision reflects a leadership approach that supports both media freedom and responsible governance.
The GJA also encouraged the affected radio stations to use this opportunity to fix their compliance issues. While the Association supports law enforcement, it emphasized that regulation should not threaten freedom of the press.
Call for Dialogue and Transparency
The Association urged the NCA to engage in open dialogue with media stakeholders. They emphasized that regulatory enforcement should be fair and should not disrupt the free flow of information.
To improve transparency, the GJA recommended that the NCA publish the compliance status of all radio and TV stations, including information on ownership and licensing dates.
In a statement signed by General Secretary Kofi Yeboah, the GJA called for a regulatory system that supports operational compliance without compromising press freedom.
