President John Dramani Mahama has intervened in the continuing regulatory enforcement by the National Communications Authority (NCA), demanding forgiveness for 64 FM radio stations that were forced to halt operations due to licensing infractions.

In a statement published by the Presidency Communications Directorate on Thursday, June 12, President Mahama asked the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovation to work with the NCA to help restore disrupted radio broadcasts. The instruction follows the NCA's enforcement action earlier today, which targeted stations operating with expired authorizations or failing to meet regulatory standards.

The President's appeal highlighted the need of striking a balance between regulatory compliance and media freedom.

"Requiring radio stations to shut down while awaiting regularisation of their authorisation could limit the space for expressing such freedoms," the press release said.

President Mahama encouraged the Minister to work with the NCA to set a "reasonable timeframe" during which impacted stations might resume normal operations without having their broadcasts impeded.

The NCA's mandate, issued on June 12, affects 62 radio stations that were determined to be in violation of licensing terms under the Electronic Communications Regulations, 2011 (L.I. 1991) and the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775). Infractions included operating with expired authorizations, failing to meet the terms for provisional licenses, and not having compliance certifications.

While the NCA acknowledged radio's important role in national development, it also stressed that failure to comply with broadcasting standards would result in serious penalties.

President Mahama's request for clemency is interpreted as an attempt to find a balance between enforcing media regulation and protecting democratic freedom.

source: https://starrfm.com.gh/mahama-calls-for-clemency-as-nca-shuts-down-64-radio-stations/#