Group gives NCA one week ultimatum to reopen Radio Gold, XYZ

Pressure group, Free Media Vanguards, has petitioned the National Communications Authority (NCA) and given them a one week ultimatum to reopen some radio stations shut down by the authority.

The group described the NCA’s action as an abuse of its powers and suppression of press freedom.

Presenting the petition on Tuesday, 21 May 2019, after a march in Accra, the Convener for the group, Mr Prince Minkah, entreated the NCA to execute their functions with tact.

“In applying the law … you can use the law to suppress men, you can use the law to destroy men, you can use the law to destroy history … you (NCA) should not be a part of those who will go down in history as destroying the freedoms of men, all in the name of the law,” he stated.

Receiving the petition on behalf of the Director-General of the NCA, a Deputy Director of Managerial Operations, Olivia Quartey, said the petition will be tabled before the leadership of the NCA for redress.

Hundreds of people gathered to demonstrate on Tuesday, 21 May 2019 against what they described as moves by the government to attack press freedom.

The protesters, clad in red and black attire, were wielding placards with inscriptions such as: “Enough is enough”, “Akufo-Addo, you are a threat to free speech”, “Stop adding tyranny to hardship”, “Leave Adeti alone”, and so forth.

They marched from the El-Wak Sports Stadium to the offices of the NCA.

The protest, dubbed: “March for Free Expression”, aimed to safeguard the fundamental human rights of free expression, and the work of journalists, which the organisers say have come under threat.

The protest follows the closure of Accra-based Radio XYZ, Radio Gold and several media houses across the country, for failing to renew their operating licences.

The Minority in Parliament has given its full backing to the march.

But Information Minister, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, maintains that the shutdown of the radio stations by the National Communications Authority is not an attack on press freedom.

Source: starr