Executive Director of Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), has debunked claims that the National Communications Authority (NCA) is more visible for good reasons.
Communications Minister-designate, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful during vetting Monday indicated that the NCA has become noticeable due to better management under her watch.
However, Sulemana Braimah, believes the Authority’s visibility is as a result of its notoriety gained under the Ministry’s supervision over the past 4 years.
“Of course with the very negative publicity that accompanied the shutdown of the radio stations, one would expect that the NCA will certainly get more visibility.”
It will be recalled that the NCA under the tenure of the Ablekuman West MP in 2017, identified some 144 radio stations of which according to them had “several infractions which necessitated that they be sanctioned.”
Following what they say is an “FM Broadcasting Audit,” the Authority with the assistance of the police invaded some station and subsequently shutting down those described as unauthorized.
But, speaking to Ayisha Ibrahim on PM Express Monday night, Mr Braimah said the NCA’s action, “obviously was a very partisan decision that was taken to shutdown pro-opposition radio stations and leave pro-government radio stations that had to infringe the same legislation the same way to be active.”
Although the Communications Minister-designate had stated that the act was “by operation of Law,” the MFWA boss disagrees, indicating that the Law was not applied fairly.
According to him, data on NCA’s website indicates that some stations are still operating without authorization as far back as 2002.
“So if there are stations that have not renewed their authorization, I mean their first authorization was 2002, some 2006, some 2009, then what is the basis in leaving those stations on air whiles others have been shut down,” he quizzed.
“And so quite clearly, it is not what the minister says, it is what the evidence is that we have to look at,” he stressed.
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