The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has revealed how the President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Dwumfour, intervened after he shut down 64 media houses.

In a video sighted by GhanaWeb on November 9, 2026, he said the GJA President appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to reconsider the action, citing concerns about its effect on Ghana’s reputation.

List of radio stations which were shut down by government

According to Sam George, the GJA President made the appeal about two hours after the shutdown, arguing that the President, being a former media practitioner, should not allow his minister to shut down media houses.

“I shut down 64 media houses. Two hours after that, the president of the GJA ran to the president, screaming blue murder, that the president is a former practitioner, and is allowing his minister to shut down media houses and is going to give us a bad impression, bad reputation,” he stated.

He said President Mahama subsequently asked him to grant an amnesty to the affected media houses.

Sam George maintained that the shutdown was necessary because the outlets had breached their own code of conduct and licensing requirements.

“So media houses that had breached their own code of conduct, had breached their licensing regime, I decided to act. The GJA president went, and so two hours later, the president asked me to give an amnesty,” he explained.

He continued, saying, “This is public record. The reason for that amnesty, I'm putting it out today, is that the GJA president went.”

Sam George also criticised journalists who, he said, were opposing efforts to address challenges in the media industry.

He argued that journalists represented by the GJA should not be working against efforts to resolve the problems affecting the sector.

“So if you are trying to fix the problem, and it is the same journalists in your representation, that is fighting those who are trying to fix the problem, you're fighting yourself,” he added.

It will be recalled that in 2025, the National Communications Authority (NCA) suspended the licenses of over 60 media houses affected by regulatory actions, including prominent outlets such as Asaase Radio and Wontumi FM.

The NCA cited multiple regulatory infractions and non-compliance with broadcasting laws.

'If you leave me, I will shut down every political and religious media house' – Sam George

Following the action taken, President John Dramani Mahama intervened and directed Sam George to work with the National Communications Authority (NCA) to immediately restore the broadcast licenses of media houses.

Watch the video below:

Sam George Reveals President Mahama Asked Him to Grant 64 Shut-Down Media Houses Amnesty

Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Hon. Sam George, has recounted how President Mahama intervened after he ordered the shutdown of 64 media houses.

According to the minister, the President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) appealed directly to President Mahama just two hours after the shutdown, prompting the President to ask him to grant the affected media houses amnesty.

“I shut down 64 media houses. Two hours later, the President of the GJA ran to the President, screaming blue murder, and the President asked me to grant them amnesty,” Sam George recounted.

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— GHANA NATION MEDIA 🇬🇭 (@Ghana_Nation1) November 9, 2026