GJA urges NCA to review decision on two radio stations

GNA – The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) is calling on the National Communication Authority (NCA) to review its decision of closing down the two Accra-based radio stations.

The Association is also urging all operators of broadcasting stations whose authorisation has expired or are in default of the regulations governing their operations to rectify same in order to avoid sanctions by the NCA.

A statement signed by Mr Affail Monney, the President of the GJA and copied to the Ghana News Agency said although the decision to close down Radio Gold 90.5 FM and Radio XYZ 93.1 FM was appropriate, it needed to be considered for some reasons.

The GJA is also urging the Authority to give the two defaulting companies a lifeline to renew their authorisation and operations.

The statement said the decision by the NCA to close down the two radio stations for operating without authorization suggested that all other broadcasting stations in the country have valid authorization to operate.

“Without casting doubt on such possibility, it would be prudent for the NCA to, in the interest of transparency, and in order to elevate its decision above reproach, publish the authorisation status of all broadcast operators in the country,” the statement said.

It added that although the Authority may not be under any legal obligation to publish the status of all broadcast operators, it is enjoined by public interest to act in such manner.

The statement said the GJA believes in the mandate of the NCA to apply the law on frequency authorization and as a body that upholds the rule of law, it appreciates any decision in that regard by any person or authority for the purposes of ensuring sanity in the system.

The statement said the GJA was of the firm believe that the action of the NCA had the tendency to undermine media freedom in Ghana, as enshrined under Chapter 12 of the 1992 Constitution.

It said the framers of the 1992 Constitution had very good reasons to grant such elaborate freedoms to the media, although with responsibility, and that, nothing must be done to upstage the mindset of the constitutional framers.

GNA