The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has lauded President John Dramani Mahama for halting the planned shutdown of 64 radio stations by the National Communications Authority (NCA), describing it as a timely intervention to protect media freedom and prevent socio-economic fallout.
The stations faced closure for regulatory breaches, including expired authorisations, unpaid fees, and operational irregularities. However, President Mahama directed the Communications Ministry and NCA to suspend the enforcement action, citing concerns about its impact on media plurality and freedom of expression.
In a statement issued Friday, the GJA said the mass closure would have led to job losses and disrupted vital public communication, praising the president’s action as a “balance between enforcement and media freedom.”
While urging the affected stations to use the grace period to regularise their operations, the GJA also emphasized the importance of regulatory compliance. It called for transparent and fair processes from the NCA and recommended that the authority publish the compliance status of all broadcast stations to promote accountability.
Signed by General Secretary Kofi Yeboah, the statement urged continued dialogue between regulators and media stakeholders to safeguard both lawful broadcasting and press freedom in Ghana.
