The National Communications Authority (NCA) has halted the operations of nine radio stations in Ghana for different regulatory violations, including three owned by Ashanti regional NPP chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, also known as Wontumi.
The decision, published in a statement dated August 12, comes after President John Dramani Mahama’s 30-day grace period for defaulting stations to correct infringement of broadcasting regulations expired.
Read More: Mahama pardons 64 radio stations sanctioned by NCA.
“Six stations failed, refused and neglected to comply with the regulatory amnesty by taking no action,” declared the National Communications Association (NCA).
According to the regulator, while several non-compliant stations remedied breaches during the amnesty period, three others failed to address specific violations, such as the unauthorised use of Studio-to-Transmitter Link (STL) frequencies and the operation of unapproved transmitter locations.
According to the Authority, these stations were operating without a valid Certificate of Compliance, which violated Regulation 54 of the Electronic Communications Regulations, 2011 (L.I. 1991).
“As a result, the following stations’ operations have been suspended,” the statement continued.
Donplus Multimedia Limited (Ho, 105.9), Dreams Ghana Media Limited (New Abirem, 104.9), Jam Multimedia Limited (Kintampo, 101.3), Jewel Group Limited (Duayaw Nkwanta, 102.7), Kandai Star Community Radio (Kpandai, 107.3), Unique Gateway Communication Limited, and three Wontumi Multimedia Company Limited outlets in Accra (95.9), Kumasi (101.3), and Takoradi (101.3) are among those affected.
The NCA restated its commitment to upholding broadcasting regulations in order to keep Ghana’s media landscape orderly and transparent.
“The NCA will continue to monitor the broadcasting space to ensure compliance with the relevant authorisation conditions and the laws and regulations,” the statement went on to say.
