Clergy Forum for Fairness [CFF] has commended the National Communications Authority (NCA) and the Communication Ministry for their swift move to shut down Television stations broadcasting unsafe contents.
The clergy group reiterated the call on the Authorities to make sure the owners of those Media houses are brought to book to serve as deterrent to others.
The National Communications Authority (NCA) on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 embarked on an exercise to shutdown 49 Television (TV) stations for operating without Authorisations.
This forms part of a continuous monitoring exercise conducted on various Satellite Free-to-Air Television platforms using the Broadcast Monitoring System (BMS) and the Radio Spectrum Monitoring System (RSMS).
The monitoring revealed that some channels were operating without valid Authorisations, contrary to Section 2(4) of the Electronic Communications Act 775 of 2008, which states that, ‘Except as provided by this Act or any other law not inconsistent with this Act, a person shall not operate. a broadcasting system or provide a broadcasting service without a frequency authorisation by the Authority’.
As a result, forty-nine (49) channels have been identified to be operating without valid Authorisations from the Authority and is being shut down accordingly.
The exercise is being done in conjunction with the Ghana Police Service and National Security Intelligence Operatives.
According to the NCA, it will continue monitoring to ensure that the use of spectrum is done in an efficient manner. NCA also take the opportunity to caution all Licence and Authorisation holders to ensure that their Licences and Authorisations are always up-to-date and in compliance with the stated terms and conditions.
Read FULL statement below.
SHUTTING DOWN OF MEDIA HOUSES FOR ALLOWING FRAUDULENT ACTIVITIES NOT ENOUGH, SUE THE OWNERS AS ACCOMPLICES.
We the Clergy forum for fairness ( C.F.F) wish to deep our appreciation to the National communications Authority ( NCA) and the Communication Ministry for their swift move to make sure Some TV stations who have used their Medium as a fertile land for Money doublers and Tricksters face shutdown.
As we appreciate this Official intervention, C.F.F will reiterate the call on the Authorities to make sure the Owners of those Media houses are brought to book to School others.
Undebatable, Scores of innocent Ghanaians both Home and overseas have fallen Victim to these decorated dubious activities which none of them will be compensated for their Huge lost of wealth and properties to these Tricksters after the station are Closed down.
We pray the owners of such TV stations face the full rancor of the Law for being accomplices in the Acts.
The National communications Authority through the Section 2(4) of the Communication Act 755 of 2008 has published 49 Television Station which Some of them Operated without Valid Documents and others go contrary to the interpretations of the above Act of Communication.
Clergy forum for fairness (CFF) hereby declare support for such Move but call on the Authority to make sure their open release goes practical to build the trust of the People.
Signed….
National president
Rev. Paul Fiifi Baidoo
0243127074
National vice president
Rev. Samuel Annobil
0592109903
Cc: All media Houses.
