NCA shuts down ‘living room’ radio station at Dansoman

The National Communications Authority (NCA), has closed down an illegal Accra-based FM Station.

In a statement issued by the NCA the station, Radio Dam, which was broadcasting on 104.9FM, was closed down by officials of the NCA and some police officials.

The NCA explained that the said station violated Section 3(1) of the Electronic Communications Act (2008), Act 775, as it was being run from the living room of the operators at Dansoman.

The NCA added that the operators denied running an FM station and insisted they were only broadcasting online.

“Operators of the illegal station had denied running an FM station, insisting that they only operated an online station. The NCA, however, has recordings of the station operating on the illegal frequency of 104.9FM. Upon checks at the premises, it was discovered that the transmitter, which was subsequently confiscated, had been hidden under the station’s banner,” the NCA said.

The Authority has since issued a Cease and Desist Order to the operators of the frequency preventing them from continuing with the illegality.

The NCA warned that the operators will be arrested and prosecuted if they continue operation.

The closure of Radio Dam comes at a time when the NCA has given indications that it is fully applying its laws to the operation of Radio and TV stations in the country.

In September 2017, the NCA imposed hefty fines and took action against some 130 FM stations that had violated its operational terms.