The National Media Commission (NMC) has written to the National Communications Authority (NCA), to withdraw the licenses of Onua TV and Onua FM.

The NMC stated in its letter that its request stems from the fact that “the two stations have become the soundtrack to hateful rhetoric carefully orchestrated to incite ethnic division, provoke mutiny in the armed forces and prey upon the youth for insurrection against the state.”

According to the NMC, the two stations have “systematically sought to subvert critical national institutions including the Council of State and the Ghana Armed Forces in a manner that constitutes clear and present danger to the public interest.”

The National Media Commission (NMC) asserted that, given the circumstances, imposing a fine would not be adequate.

A letter signed by the Executive Secretary, George Sarpong, to the NCA said, “Article 164 of the Constitution subjects media rights to laws that are reasonably required in the interest of national security and public order among other things. In line with that, section 13(e) of the Electronic Communications Act, 2008, (Act 775) empowers the authority to suspend a frequency authorisation where “the suspension or revocation is necessary … in the public interest.”

“We also confirm in terms of section 13(f) of the Electronic Communications Act, 2008, (Act 775), that the imposition of a fine will not be sufficient under the circumstances considering the dangerous nature of the content, the persistent defiance of advice, the presenter’s unprofessional practice, management’s incapacity in implementing regulatory rules and the Board’s nonchalance in supervising the stations.”

“Such stereotyping and tribal bigotry if unchecked will ultimately lead to ethnic conflict, undermine national cohesion and destabilize the state.”

Meanwhile, the management of Onua FM/TV has sued NMC for alleged harassment.