The Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has firmly declared in Parliament that the shutdown of some 64 radio stations for regulatory breaches is not an assault on fundamental free speech.
Instead, he clarified, these measures represent a determined push for accountability, order, and the responsible stewardship of Ghana’s public airwaves.
“Our fight is not against free speech,” he asserted in Parliament today shortly after an intervention by President John Mahama to have the licences of the radio stations restored. “It is against lawlessness, asset misappropriation, and regulatory defiance.”
[embedded content]In a statement in Parliament, he emphasised that the government’s primary objective is not punishment but rather to ensure “accountability, order, and the responsible stewardship of a public critical resource”.
The minister underscored the principle that “the airwaves do not belong to the powerful and connected. They belong to the public, and we are duty-bound to govern them transparently and effectively.”
Characterising the current intervention as more than mere “routine housekeeping”, the MP for Ningo-Prampram described it as a “declaration against impunity, abuse, and inertia” within the broadcasting sector.
In a significant concession, and responding to a plea for clemency from His Excellency the President, Mr George announced a 30-day grace period starting today, June 12, 2025.
During this time, all defaulting media houses are urged to rectify their breaches and meet regulatory requirements.
READ ALSO: Mahama’s clemency for affected radio stations mere optics – Afenyo-Markin
To demonstrate the government’s commitment to reinstatement rather than permanent closure, the minister cited a precedent from earlier this year.
“Earlier this year, we shut down six media houses who have all rectified their breaches, and they have been reinstated,” he stated.
He strongly encouraged current defaulters to “take advantage of the President’s clemency for 30 days.”
Mr George reiterated his unwavering commitment to a broader reform agenda for the sector.
“I remain committed to reclaiming what rightfully belongs to the Ghanaian people and laying the foundations for a fair, modern, and technologically equipped broadcasting sector,” he concluded, highlighting the long-term vision behind the government’s regulatory stance.
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