President of Ghana directs NCA to restore licences of radio stations

President John Dramani Mahama has instructed the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation to work with the National Communications Authority (NCA) to reinstate the broadcast licences of 64 radio stations shut down over regulatory infractions.

A statement from the Presidency, issued on Thursday, June 12, 2025, said that although the actions taken by the NCA were grounded in law, they risked affecting media freedom if stations were not given a fair opportunity to regularise their status.

The NCA had earlier suspended the operations of 62 radio stations found to be in breach of the Electronic Communications Act and related regulations.

Offences cited included operating with expired authorisations, failure to pay fees, exceeding permitted transmission limits, or continuing to broadcast despite official revocation notices.

Offences cited included operating with expired authorisations, failure to pay fees, exceeding permitted transmission limits, or continuing to broadcast despite official revocation notices.

Among the affected stations are Happy FM, Asaase Radio and Wontumi FM. Mr Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, a stakeholder in Asaase Radio, acknowledged in a post on X that the station delayed renewing its licence. “It was to be renewed by October but only done in December 2024,” he wrote.

According to the NCA, some of the affected stations had ignored earlier directives issued in 2024, while others did not meet administrative or technical requirements within the given timelines.

The closures followed a compliance audit and a directive from the Ministry to enforce broadcasting standards.

President Mahama said while regulatory enforcement was necessary, it must not come at the expense of constitutional rights.

“Requiring radio stations to shut down while awaiting the regularisation of their authorisation could limit the space for expressing such freedoms,” the statement said.

He has therefore directed the Minister to engage the NCA and agree on a practical timeframe within which the affected stations can meet the required conditions and return to air.

The directive is expected to provide relief to broadcasters, particularly in areas where local radio remains the main source of news and public information.