Member of Parliament for Mpraeso, Davis Ansah Opoku, has questioned the locus of the Communications Minister to ask for an audit of frequencies.
He argues that the National Communications Authority is an independent body and must initiate spectrum audits only through established legal procedures rather than political directives.
The man popularly known as OPK indicated that a major red flag is the fact that the directive is focused on only the past 60 days of frequency authorizations.
To him, it is clear that the Minister’s Directive is targeting some specific media houses adding that any frequency review should reasonably encompass all allocations, not just those within an arbitrary timeframe that could be politically motivated.
He urged the National Communications Authority to be independent and not have any form of interference.
“The NCA must remain independent and free from political interference. Any frequency audit should be transparent, encompass the entire industry, and adhere to legal standards. Press freedom must be protected, not stifled through selective regulation.”
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As we celebrate World Radio Day 2025 under the theme “Radio and Climate Change,” we must reaffirm the importance of radio for education, awareness, and accountability. Radio has long been a pillar of democracy, ensuring that Ghanaians stay informed, engaged, and empowered.
On Wednesday, the Minister for Communication’s directive to audit frequency authorisations issued in the past 60 days raised concerns about political interference in media regulation.
The National Communications Authority (NCA) is legally mandated to operate independently, as stated in Section 9 of the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775):
“Except as otherwise provided in this Act, the Authority shall not be subject to the direction or control of any person or authority in performing its functions.”
The Minister does not have the legal authority to instruct the NCA on spectrum audits or revocations.
The NCA must initiate any frequency audit through established legal procedures rather than political directives.
Once again, this directive’s selective focus on only the past 60 days of frequency authorisations raises a significant red flag. If the intention is to ensure transparency and compliance, why limit the audit to a short period? This raises concerns that the directive is being used to target specific media houses rather than to apply fair and consistent regulation across the industry. Any frequency review should reasonably encompass all allocations, not just those within an arbitrary timeframe that could be politically motivated.
The NCA must remain independent and free from political interference. Any frequency audit should be transparent, encompass the entire industry, and adhere to legal standards. Press freedom must be protected, not stifled through selective regulation.
Radio is a cornerstone of democracy and essential for addressing climate change and other national issues. We must resist any attempts to undermine media freedom and ensure that regulatory decisions are made in the best interests of all Ghanaians rather than influenced by political motives.
National Communication Authority – NCA
ministry_of_communications
