Ghana’s President Gives Directive For 62 Radio Stations To Resume Operations After They Were Shut Down 

John Dramani Mahama

Source: Africa Publicity

The President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, has given directive for some 62 radio which were shut down in Ghana for regulatory breaches to resume operations immediately.

As earlier reported, Ghana’s National Communications Authority (NCA) shut down 62 FM broadcasting stations across, particularly major channels such as Asaase Radio and Wontumi FM which are owned by elements of the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).

But in a directive to the Ghanaian Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Mr. Mahama requested a collaboration between the Ministry of Communications and the NCA to ensure the affected stations resume broadcasting without delay.

The directive was contained in a release issued by the Spokesperson to President Mahama and the Ghanaian government’s Minister for Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu.

According to release, President Mahama believes in the importance of balancing regulatory compliance with media freedom.

As such, the release noted that “requiring radio stations to shut down while awaiting the regularisation of their authorisation could limit the space for expressing such freedoms.”

Why the suspensions?

NCA had earlier on Thursday, June 12, 2025, ordered the immediate suspension of the operations of the stations for alleged multiple regulatory breaches.

According to NCA in a statement, “a total of approximately sixty-two (62) stations have been affected. These stations currently do not hold valid broadcasting authorization or do not have a Certificate of Compliance to commence operations and may only resume operations once all regulatory infractions have been addressed and rectified.”

The statement stressed that the suspension targets stations found to be operating with expired authorisations, unpaid license fees, or failure to meet conditions stipulated under the Electronic Communications Act and its accompanying regulations.

It added that “The enforcement action has become necessary due to persistent violations of regulatory requirements, specifically Regulations 54 and 56 of the Electronic Communications Regulations, 2011 (L.I. 1991) and the Conditions of their FM Broadcasting Authorizations.”

The statement says a recent audit by the NCA – backed by a ministerial directive – revealed widespread non-compliance, prompting the suspension aimed at restoring order and adherence to broadcasting standards.

Asaase Radio, an Accra-based station, broadcasts on 99.5 FM.