Appointment Of Minister As NCA Board Chairman Questioned

JOYFM investigations has revealed that a new board for the National Communications Authority (NCA) to be chaired by the Minister for Communications Felix Owusu Agyepong has been appointed. The government dissolved the NCA board, which was appointed in the dying days of the NDC.

Interest groups within the country’s telecommunications sector have expressed surprise at a decision to ask the Minister for Transport and Communications to chair the Board of the National Communications Authority.

Reacting to the news broadcast on JOYFM, they contended that the board’s independence and autonomy as a regulator has been greatly compromised. The Minister, Felix Owusu Adjepong who is chairing the board and the acting Director General of the Authority Major J.R.K. Tandoh insisted in separate interviews that no such appointments have been made.

This has led to speculations that the government was aware that the Minister’s assumption of that office will be in conflict with the law and is therefore keeping it out of public knowledge. Telecommunications experts JOYFM spoke to referred to various sections of the NCA Act- 524 to emphasise that the Minister, Felix Owusu Adjepong’s role as NCA board Chairman will invariably mean he will be reporting to himself.

For example, a person who is aggrieved by the refusal of the NCA to grant or renew his license can apply to the Minister for redress. But with the Minister as the board chairman, aggrieved persons cannot expect redress. The determination of the allowances of the board is also the responsibility of the Minister, who is now the board Chairman. Mr. Owusu Adjepong will also invariably be preparing the report of the activities of the authority and financial statement and present them to himself.

According to the NCA Act, the Transport and Communications Minister is only expected to have ministerial responsibility for the authority, and may give such directions of general character that are in the public interest.

Credible sources within the National Communications Authority and the Communications Ministry have expressed surprise at the denial by the Minister for Transport and Communications of the appointment of a new NCA board.

The letter from the Minister informing the Acting NCA boss of the seven-member board was dated 9th July and received at the NCA the same day.

Meanwhile the Deputy Government Spokesperson, Kwabena Agyepong has reacted to the story indicating that the Council of State is now considering the President’s nominations to the board.

However, Mr. Agyepong did not indicate if the letter informing the Council of State of the nominees nullifies the Ministers letter appointing himself as Chairman of the board. He told the Presidential press corps that no story should be published without a reaction from the Presidency.