NMC, GIBA, PRINPAG back closure of TV stations
Three institutions have expressed their support for the National Communications Authority (NCA) in withdrawing the licences of nine television stations that have failed to comply with the regulations of the authority.
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They are the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA), the National Media Commission (NMC) and the Private Newspaper Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG).
Speaking in separate interviews with the Daily Graphic, leading members of the three institutions said the NCA had taken the right decision in revoking the licences of the errant TV stations.
Leading the call was the President of GIBA, Mr Akwasi Agyemang, who stressed the need for all broadcasting laws to be adhered to.
Adherence to regulations
He said the allocation of frequencies to operate a TV station came with certain legal obligations and there was the need for the NCA to ensure that all players adhered to those obligations.
Mr Agyemang urged the NCA to step up its efforts and deal decisively with others who might be flouting the laws or who might do so in the future.
The Executive Secretary of PRINPAG, Kenteman Nii Laryea Sowah, said the action of the NCA was long overdue and asked why it had taken the NCA so long to notice that these stations were not adhering to the regulations of the authority.
He said there were more stations that were flouting the regulations and called on the NCA to be up to the task.
Due diligence
Mr Sowah also called on the NCA to do proper diligence before issuing licences to would-be operators.
A Commissioner at the NMC, Dr Doris Yaa Dartey, said the action by the NCA was in line with its mandate and urged it to do periodic checks to ensure that there was total compliance with the laid-down regulations.
The NCA last Wednesday withdrew the licences of nine television stations that failed to comply with the regulations of the authority.
They are Clive TV, OB TV (otherwise known as Obinim TV), ECN, Zoe TV, BTA, ATV, Care TV, Kessben TV and Elijah TV.
A statement issued by the NCA to announce the decision noted the public interest that had been generated following its recent enforcement actions on some unauthorised television stations.
The authority received a number of questions regarding the withdrawal of the licences and why some television channels had been taken off the Multi TV broadcasting platform.
Regulations
It quoted Section 2 (4) of the Electronic Communications Act, 2008, Act 775, which stipulates that “… a person shall not operate a broadcasting system or provide a broadcasting service without a frequency authorisation by the Authority”.
In that respect, the statement explained that any person or entity seeking to operate a system for the provision of broadcasting services had to obtain an authorisation from the NCA.