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GJA Commends President Mahama for Reversing Decision to Shut Down Radio Stations

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The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has commended President John Dramani Mahama for his intervention in halting the revocation of frequency authorization of 64 radio stations across the country. The National Communications Authority (NCA) had taken steps to shut down the defaulting stations for various regulatory breaches, including failure to renew authorization, operating without valid authorization, exceeding permitted transmission, and non-payment of authorization fees.

The GJA believes that shutting down 64 radio stations, regardless of their infractions, would have had severe social and economic consequences. The electronic media industry would have been severely ruptured, resulting in the loss of thousands of jobs and denial of critical public services rendered by the stations. The GJA agrees with the President that shutting down the radio stations may seriously undermine media freedom and freedom of expression.

The GJA commends President Mahama for tempering regulatory enforcement with clemency in this instance. The President’s intervention sends a good signal that the government is responsive to concerns for media freedom and is committed to fostering media pluralism and diversity. The GJA encourages the affected radio stations to use the moratorium extended to them to fulfill all regulatory requirements and avoid subsequent closure.

The GJA recognizes the importance of regulatory compliance in ensuring a responsible media landscape. However, the association reiterates its consistent call for approaches that do not stifle the flow of information or unduly penalize media houses. The GJA urges fairness and transparency to attend the enforcement of regulatory compliance and calls on the NCA to publish the standing of all radio and television stations, including dates of their regulatory compliance, as well as the owners of those stations.

The GJA calls for more extensive dialogue between the regulator and stakeholders in the industry. This dialogue would ensure that in the pursuit of operational fidelity, the industry does not inadvertently harm itself. The GJA believes that a collaborative approach would help to find solutions that balance regulatory compliance with the need to uphold and enhance media freedom.

The GJA’s commendation of President Mahama’s intervention is a testament to the importance of media freedom and freedom of expression in a democratic society. The association’s call for fairness, transparency, and dialogue highlights the need for a balanced approach to regulatory compliance. By working together, the media industry and regulators can ensure that the electronic media landscape in Ghana continues to thrive and provide critical services to the public.

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