The National Communications Authority (NCA) has shut down four radio stations in Bawku and the Upper East Region. The stations are Bawku FM, Source FM, Zahra FM, and Gumah FM.
The authority explains that the stations were shut due to recommendations of the Upper East Regional Security Council and on the advice of the Ministry of National Security that the operations of the said stations contributed to the escalation of the Bawku conflict. This was contained in a press statement issued on February 24, 2024, by the authority.
“This follows the recommendations of the Upper East Regional Security Council and on the advice of the Ministry of National Security that the operations of the said FM Stations and the incendiary utterances of their panelists/presenters have contributed to the escalation of the Bawku conflict, leading to loss of lives and property in Bawku and its environs,”a statement by the NCA said.
The authority further indicated that the move was in accordance with Section 13(1)(e) of the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775) which stipulates that “the Authority may suspend or revoke a licence or a frequency authorisation where; the suspension or revocation is necessary because of national security or is in the public interest”.
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Last year, the National Media Commission (NMC), an organization set up to promote and safeguard the freedom and independence of the media, and to encourage responsible practice said it is deeply worried about the increasing weaponisation of the media in the protracted conflict in that part of northern Ghana.
