The Government of Ghana has ordered nine privately owned radio stations to stop operations over what has been described as a violation of various infractions.
The stop operations suspension order from Government was challenged through an official statement issued by the National Communications Authority (NCA) and dated Tuesday, August 12, 2025.
Three of the suspended radio stations belong to the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Bosiako, alias ‘Chairman Wontumi’. They are the Wontumi 95.9 FM located in Accra, Wontumi 101.3 FM located in Kumasi and Wontumi 101.3 FM located in Takoradi.
The statement from the regulatory body, the NCA, said the three ‘Wontumi’ stations were suspended for “operating without a Certificate of Compliance in violation of Regulation 54 of the Electronic Communications Regulations, 2011, L.I. 1991.”
The NCA statement noted further that the stations did not take advantage of the 30-day grace period given by Government for them to remedy some of the breaches including unauthorized use of Studio-to-Transmitter Link (STL) frequencies and unapproved transmitter locations.
The other six suspended stations are the Donplus Multimedia Limited105.9 located in Ho, Dreams Ghana Media Limited 104.9 located in New Abirem, Jam Multimedia Limited101.3 located in Kintampo, Jewel Group Limited102.7 located in Duayaw Nkwanta, Kpandai Star Community Radio107.3 located in Kpanda and Unique Gateway Communication Limited 105.7 located in Nkawkaw.
The NCA claimed says the additional six stations also “failed, refused and neglected to comply with the regulatory amnesty by taking no action.”
All nine stations suspended yesterday August 12, were part of the 64 radio that were ordered by the NCA to shut down in June over claims of regulatory infractions and non-compliance with broadcasting laws.
The order from the NCA was based on a directive from the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, but was put on hold due to a 30-day amnesty granted by President John Mahama for the stations to correct whatever wrong had been detected.
Though the shut-down order sparked some public outrage, Samuel Nartey George explained to Parliament it was not a decision taken out of malice.
“Our fight is not against free speech. It is against lawlessness, asset misappropriation, and regulatory defiance. I remain committed to reclaiming what rightfully belongs to the Ghanaian people and laying the foundation for a fair, modern, and technologically equipped broadcasting sector,” he stated.
Samuel George, addressing Parliament on Thursday June 13 over the development said “Our goal is not punishment but accountability, order and stewardship of critical resources,” he told lawmakers. “This is not routine housekeeping; this is a declaration against impunity and abuse. The airwaves do not belong to the powerful and connected; they belong to the public, and we are bound to govern them transparently and effectively.”
The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, in his June 13 address in Parliament, urged the defaulting media houses to take advantage of the President’s clemency for 30 days.
