Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Ghanaian Times
Published on 2024-02-26 08:09:50
The Omanhene of the Agogo Traditional Area in the Ashanti Region, Nana Akuoko Sarpong, recently made an appeal to the Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, to direct the National Communication Agency (NCA) to reopen Salt FM 95.9MHZ. The FM station was closed down on February 6 by the NCA due to its failure to renew its license on time.
Nana Akuoko Sarpong, who is also the President of the Agogo Traditional Council, stressed that the closure has had a significant impact on the over 65 towns and villages that rely heavily on Salt FM 95.9MHz for information. The station has been instrumental in fostering community and national development dialogues in Agogo and neighboring communities, as well as the dissemination of important information.
The Omanhene highlighted that the license expired on December 23, 2023, and urged the Minister to allow Salt FM 95.9MHz to continue operating while they work on renewing their license promptly. After discussions with the station’s management, they have committed to addressing any issues and renewing their license by the end of the first quarter of 2024.
Meanwhile, the NCA has also closed down four radio stations in Bawku, Upper East Region, due to their alleged role in escalating the Bawku conflict. The stations named in the press statement are Bawku FM, Source FM, Zahra FM, and Gumah FM. The closure came as a result of recommendations from the Upper East Regional Security Council, with support from the Ministry of National Security.
The NCA stated that the operations of the FM stations and the provocative statements made by their presenters have contributed to the escalation of the conflict in Bawku, resulting in loss of lives and property. As a result, the NCA exercised its powers to shut down the stations to prevent further unrest in the area.
In conclusion, the appeal by Nana Akuoko Sarpong to reopen Salt FM 95.9MHz reflects the importance of access to information for the communities in Agogo and surrounding areas. The closure of the station, along with the shutdown of the four radio stations in Bawku, highlights the delicate balance between freedom of expression and responsible journalism in promoting peace and stability in Ghana. The role of the NCA in regulating and monitoring the media landscape is crucial in ensuring that communication channels operate in the best interest of the public and national security.
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