Legon student petitions Akufo-Addo over NCA sanctioned FM stations

Europa

October 24, 2017 9:38 AM

The student argued that although the NCA had constitutional backing in sanctioning the said stations, it failed to secure parliamentary approval.

A student of the University of Ghana has petitioned the president, Nana Akufo-Addo over the recent sanctions imposed on defaulting radio stations by the National Communications Authority (NCA).

The student, Malik S. Y. Basintale in his petition dated Monday, October 23, 2017, accused the Minister of Communications, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, of breaching some sections of the 1992 constitution in imposing the sanctions.

He argued that although the NCA had constitutional backing in sanctioning the said stations, it failed to secure parliamentary approval.

The Ministry recently announced a reprieve to the over 130 defaulting radio stations, leading to some of them having their licenses restored. Others had their fines halved.

But Master Basintale believes that the previous flat-rate fine should be revisited.

“Mr President, I see maintaining of the previous flat rates system in fining these media houses and saving more than 7,000 reporters, editors, hosts, newscasters, bloggers among others their jobs and goodwill to be far better than taking their frequencies and reselling them for just GH¢30,000 as government revenue.”

“I do recommend that by virtue of the fact that the Right to Information Bill will put all media houses on the same scale to getting information, we should try to create the right thing on the collection of full penalties and bills from them when all is set and done in the near future so as to favour their stands too in this matter.”

He added: “Mr President on this note I do appeal to your office to as a matter of urgency direct the National Communications Authority through Ministry of Communications to review and reverse their decision in the matter of revocation of media licenses.”

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