GJA commends Mahama for halting closure of radio stations
By Solomon Nartey Tetteh
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has praised President John Dramani Mahama for his intervention to halt the planned closure of 64 radio stations across the country.
The shutdown, initiated by the National Communications Authority (NCA), was due to various regulatory breaches.
According to the NCA, the affected stations were cited for infractions including failure to renew frequency authorizations, operating without valid documentation, exceeding transmission limits, and non-payment of authorization fees.
However, President Mahama directed the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovation to work with the NCA to suspend the closure—a move the GJA says averted a potential crisis in Ghana’s media landscape.
The Association also reaffirmed its opposition to illegality and called for regulatory compliance to be pursued within a framework that upholds journalistic freedom.
In a statement issued on Friday, June 13, 2025, the GJA noted that shutting down such a large number of stations would have serious socio-economic consequences.
“We agree with the President that shutting down the radio stations may seriously undermine media freedom and freedom of expression,” the statement further noted. The GJA also commended President Mahama for “tempering regulatory enforcement with clemency in this instance.”
