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Member of Parliament (MP) for Juaboso Constituency, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has categorically stated that the closure of some radio stations in the country were purely political.

According to him, the government has enough executive powers to settle matters between owners of the closed radio stations and it's regulators than leaving the matter unresolved, therefore, leaving workers unemployed.

"I am with the strongest opinion that the closure of about 35 radio stations in the country was a purely political move to frustrate the minority party and media owners, because those stations are tagged as speaking for the largest minority party," he said, adding that pro-NPP station like Oman FM and others were left to operate.

Speaking on UTV's 'Adekye Nsroma' newspaper political discussion segment on Ghana's stance with respect to World Press Freedom Day, the ranking member of Parliament's Health Committee stressed that journalists in this country are doing their best but more is expected of them.

He further advised media men to report the truth and not base their reportage only on monetary gains.

However, Patrick Yaw Boamah, MP for Okaikwei Central Constituency on the same platform countered his submission, saying "there is nothing political with the closure of some radio stations in the country. The laws of the state can be exercised as such".

57 radio stations shut down in Ghana

About fifty-seven broadcasting stations have been shut down by the National Communications Authority (NCA), the Communications regulator and radio-frequency licensing body in Ghana.

The stations were closed down because they failed to renew their operating licenses, according to the NCA.

A further ruling by the Electronic Communications Tribunal backed the decision, the regulator said in a statement.

According to the Minister of Communications, Mrs. Ursula Owusu Ekuful, fifty-seven out of the 144 Frequency Modulation (FM) stations were cited for various infractions in an audit exercise by the NCA.

She said: "In accordance with the decisions of the Electronic Communication Tribunal (ECT), 30 out of the 57 stations have submitted fresh applications for FM authorisations, out of which 15 have been processed.

"The applications for the remaining15 FM stations are still being processed and the outcomes will be communicated to them after they have gone through all the requisite processes, which include technical review, management review and board approval."

She revealed that 27 out of the stations that were closed down had not submitted fresh applications for new FM authorisations.

John Mahama asks Ghanaians to rise up against Akufo-Addo’s dictatorial closure of radio stations

Former President John Dramani Mahama has charged Ghanaians to oppose what he describes as the dictatorial governance style adopted by his successor in dealing with issues related to the press.

He claims President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s decision to close down some renowned radio station across the country was a typical example of an attempt to gag journalists from executing their roles in society.

According to him, the Akufo-Addo-led administration has also failed to fully address issues related to the abuse and harassment of some journalists in the country. Notably, the harassment of Edward Adeti, Manasseh Azure and the brutal murder of Ahmed Suale.”

In an official address to the nation on the event of World Press Freedom Day, the former president said, “…Let us rise up and speak against the dictatorial withdrawal of radio frequencies and closure of radio stations by the government of Nana Akufo-Addo. Let us remind and demand of government to stop paying lip service to the Right to Information Act. Let’s encourage, cherish and always expand frontiers of the freedom of the press in this digital world . . "