The National Communications Authority (NCA) has taken bold steps to clamp down on non-compliant FM radio stations across the country. In a move aimed at restoring order and enforcing discipline in the broadcasting sector, the NCA has directed several defaulting stations to immediately suspend operations for breaching various regulatory requirements.
This latest action comes after the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation instructed the NCA to enforce the necessary sanctions against stations that failed to meet the standards set out in Ghana’s Electronic Communications Regulations, 2011 (LI 1991), and the specific conditions attached to their broadcasting authorizations. The directive follows an extensive audit carried out by the NCA to assess the compliance levels of radio stations operating across the country.
Following the audit, the NCA identified a range of violations. Some stations have been operating with expired authorizations, ignoring previous directives to cease broadcasting. Others secured authorizations but failed to establish their operations within the required two-year timeframe, leading to the revocation of their licenses. Despite these revocations, a number of these stations continued to broadcast without addressing the lapses identified during inspection processes.
Additionally, several stations applied for provisional authorizations but failed to pay the necessary fees in full, leaving them without valid permits to continue their operations. There are also cases where stations have made partial payments for provisional authorization but are yet to meet all the regulatory requirements needed to secure final authorization.
In total, about 62 stations have been affected by the NCA’s directive. These stations are now prohibited from broadcasting until they fully rectify the regulatory breaches that have been identified. The NCA stressed that while it recognizes the essential role of radio in Ghana’s national development, all broadcasters must respect the laws and conditions that govern the sector.
The Authority has cautioned that any failure to comply with its latest directive will be considered a serious violation, which could carry further consequences for the affected stations’ ability to operate in the future. The NCA reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining order within the industry and called on all authorization holders to adhere strictly to the rules, ensuring a disciplined, lawful, and professional broadcasting environment in Ghana.
