Acting Director of Engineering at the National Communications Authority, Bernard Amissah-Ocran, out of the seven hundred and sixty-three (763) licensed radio stations across Ghana, only five hundred and sixty-ninety (539) are operational. The remaining two hundred and twenty four (224), he said, are off-air.

The 763 authorized FM include thirty-one (31) public stations, one hundred and fifty-five (155) community stations, 5 campus stations, five hundred and forty-eight (548) commercial stations, and twenty four (24) foreign-authorised stations.

He made this information public during the Broadcasting at the Crossroads forum, hosted by the Africa Media Bureau in Accra on Friday, September 26.

Breaking down the distribution of FM stations across all sixteen (16) regions, he noted that the Ashanti Region has the highest number of authorised stations at one hundred and sixteen (116). However, only eighty-five (85) are operational while 31 remain inactive. In the Greater Accra Region, seventy-one (71) out of eighty-four (84) authorised stations are on air.

The North East Region has the smallest number, with seven (7) out of thirteen (13) operating. The Western, Central, Eastern, Northern, and Volta regions also recorded a significant number of inactive stations.

In the meantime, the Minister for Communication, Digital Innovation and Technology, Sam George, has hinted that the government will no longer bear the sole responsibility of covering the operational costs of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT).

Speaking at the “Broadcasting at the Crossroads” forum organised by the Africa Media Bureau at the Alisa Hotel on Friday, September 26, the Minister said the government is engaging broadcasters, private companies, and other partners to develop a new financing model. “The free ride bus is running out of gas, and we need to find a sustainable means of fueling the DTT bus,” he said.

Ghana’s Digital Terrestrial Television platform was built on a cost-sharing strategy introduced in 2016 under the leadership of then Minister Edward Omane Boamah.

It was aimed at allowing TV stations to use the service in the first year for free, with 50% of fees and 75% in the third year. After the third year, they were expected to pay the entire cost themselves. However, this changed after a previous administration attempted to introduce fees.

According to him, more than 45 TV stations using Ghana’s Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) platform have gone almost 10 years without contributing money toward the running and upkeep of the system.

Earlier this month, Sam Nartey George revealed that a majority of the radio stations that were provided amnesty to meet regulatory requirements after being shut down have begun regularizing their paperwork.

Providing an update to the public as part of the Government Accountability Series on August 1, the minister revealed that 58 out of the 64 radio stations are correcting their wrongs.

"About five weeks ago, the ministry issued a directive to the NCA to shut down 64 radio stations. The President, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, intervened and requested amnesty, which we granted—a 30-day amnesty.

Of the 64 radio stations, 58 of them have written to the NCA and started the process of regularising their paperwork," he said. He, however, noted that the 64 stations were just the first batch of the radio stations that were not complying with the laws.

"However, you’d recall that I indicated that the total number of radio stations in default was 210. The 64 was just not one phase. We expect that the public sensitization with the first batch of 64 would have compelled the others to have taken steps to rectify their anomaly."

As such, the sector minister noted that "for all those who have failed to take any step, there will be no further public announcement on it. There will be simple enforcement to protect the public resource."

President John Dramani Mahama in June directed the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation to liaise with the National Communications Authority (NCA) to immediately restore the broadcast of sixty-four (64) radio stations affected by the regulator's action.

The National Communications Authority (NCA) ordered a total of 62 FM broadcasting stations to immediately suspend operations on their respective frequencies due to persistent violations of regulatory requirements.

The non-compliant stations violated Regulations 54 and 56 of the Electronic Communications Regulations, 2011 (L.I. 1991) and the Conditions of their FM Broadcasting Authorisations. In a statement by the Presidency on June 12, it was revealed that President Mahama thinks that regulatory compliance must take into account the need to uphold and enhance media freedom.Per the statement, "requiring radio stations to shut down while awaiting the regularisation of their authorisation could limit the space for expressing such freedoms."

The President thus requested the sector minister to work with the NCA on a reasonable timeframe within which the affected stations should regularise their authorisation. The Ministry for Communications complied with the directive.

Founder of Asaase Radio, Mr Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, confirmed the suspended operations of his radio station. In a post on X, Mr Otchere-Darko revealed that his uniform was supposed to renew its licence in October last year, but only did so in December. Asaase Radio was set to commemorate its 5th anniversary on Saturday, June 14.

"Yes, it’s true. Asaase Radio 99.5, which celebrates its 5th anniversary Saturday, has been shut down. The General Manager informs me it’s because the station was delayed in renewing its licence last year. It was to be renewed by October, but only done in December 2024," Gabby Otchere-Darko wrote on X.

In response, the Communications Minister Sam Nartey George entreated Mr Otchere-Darko to take advantage of the 30-day clemency the President has given and act according to what the law states. "The action by the NCA is in conformance with the law. We all must respect the laws and act accordingly. Those affected are advised to take advantage of the 30-day clemency the President has given. For God and Country."

Per a statement issued by NCA, its action followed a directive issued by the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovation, Sam Nartey George, mandating the authority to enforce applicable sanctions on stations found to violate the regulations in the recent audit conducted to ensure full compliance with licensing and operational requirements in the broadcasting sector.

The NCA thus commenced enforcement of regulatory sanctions against the defaulting entities identified in the Frequency Audit Report in phases.

The categorisation of infractions under the first phase includes 28 stations operating with expired authorizations.Some of these stations were ordered by the NCA in 2024 to cease broadcasting, but have persisted in the illegality. This represents a violation of Section 2 (4) of the Electronic Communications Act. 2008 (Act 775).

Also, 14 FM stations that were issued Notices of Revocation for failure to set up within two (2) years from the date of their Authorizations subsequently requested inspection, but the process has not been completed due to various lapses they have to rectify but are still on air.

These stations violate Regulation 54 of the Electronic Communications Regulations, 2011. LI. 1991. Thirteen (13) FM stations that applied for authorization to continue operating and have been issued provisional authorization, but have not settled the provisional authorization fees in full, and hence do not have the valid authorization to continue operating.

This represents a violation of Section 2(4) of the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775). The NCA noted that it acknowledges the vital role radio stations play in national development; however, it is imperative that all authorization holders strictly adhere to the regulatory requirements and conditions of their authorizations.

The Authority assured the general public that it remains dedicated to maintaining order in the broadcasting sector.In February this year, Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, ordered the closure of seven radio stations across the country for failing to comply with broadcasting regulations and national security requirements.

Fire Group of Companies, I-Zar Consult Limited, Abochannel Media Group, Okyeame Radio Limited, Mumen Bono Foundation, and Osikani Community FM—were operating without valid frequency authorizations, while one, Gumah FM in Bawku, was closed on security grounds.

Announcing the decision in a Facebook post on Tuesday, February 18, the minister emphasized the need for strict enforcement of media regulations to ensure responsible broadcasting. The move sparked discussions on media freedom and regulation, with some welcoming the enforcement of broadcasting standards, while others questioned the potential impact on press freedom.

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) highlighted the unconstitutionality of shutting down the radio stations without consulting major stakeholders such as the independent National Media Commission (NMC).

The Minority in Parliament then demanded that the Minister must appear before the House to provide clarity over the matter, but the Majority objected.