Nana Yaw Kesse a Peace FM Journalist has quizzed Sam George, the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations how different his shutdown of 7 radio stations is from what Ursula Owusu did in 2017.
The Peace FM Journalist noted that in 2017 Sam George criticized the then minister of communication Ursula Owusu Ekuful after she shut down some stations without going to parliament.
Nana Yaw Kesse has quizzed Sam George about whether he table that motion before parliament for the closure of these 7 stations.
Sam George a few days ago announced he had directed the National Communications Authority (NCA) to shut down 7 radio stations.
According to Sam George, one of the stations Gumah FM in Bawku was shut down on national security grounds, while the remaining six were found to be operating without valid frequency authorisation.
The statement issued revealed that Gumah FM has been used as a platform to incite violence disrupt public order and escalate tension in the North East Region.
The stations are:
- Fire Group of Companies, Sunyani – 90.1MHz
- I-Zar Consult Limited, Tamale – 89.7MHz
- Abochannel Media Group, Adidome – 105.7MHz
- Okyeame Radio Limited, Bibiani – 99.7MHz
- Mumen Bono Foundation, Techiman – 99.7MHz
- Osikani Community FM, Nkrankwanta – 99.7MHz
- Gumah FM in Bawku
Speaking on his show on Peace FM, Nana Yaw Kesse stated, “I want to ask Sam George about two, or three questions, Sam George what you did do yesterday did you go to parliament, Hon Minister you said NCA has no right to close any station whose license has expired, how different is yours from what happened in 2017?”
“That same ACT the NCA used in 2017 in their suspension is the same thing you used, Hon Minister did you go to parliament? When did you table that motion before parliament so after all Ursula was not that evil? If principles are principles let it be, don’t say it this way today because it favours you and then when the tables turn you come and say something different”, he added.
Nana Yaw Kesse further questioned Sam George whether he has seen station on the airwaves talking about ritual, and money doubling schemes, “When you became a sector minister the spectrum that where given to people to work in Ghana in the interests of National cohesion people have been using the platform for money doubling, and rituals, have you seen those things on TV on the digital platform how long should we wait for your action on these stations”, he asked.
He further reiterated, “So, Sam George, if it was not right in 2017 for the government to use it through the NCA to close down radio stations is it right today? We just want to know can the government close down a radio station without going to parliament now.
If the NCA wishes to be truthful to the people of Ghana, there is a radio station in Accra here that can call a former president a fool on their radio station, they can use unprintable words have you seen that NCA?”, Nana Yaw Kesse noted.
The Peace FM journalist further revealed that the same standard used in closing down those 7 stations must be used for all stations for Ghanaians to know the NCA is fair.
“Now that you have started to sanitize the airwaves I will support you, if you do it well I will support you, the stations that you have closed down are alleging that because they are politically affiliated to the NPP that is why you have closed them down if that is not the case let the same standard apply to all the other stations then we see you as fair”, he reiterated.
Watch the video below:
How different is your revocation of radio licenses from Ursula Owusu? Nana Yaw Kesse asks. 🤷♀️ Sam George doing the exact thing he criticized while in opposition. God sees 👀 pic.twitter.com/n1R8AX4BQa
— CHARLOTTE NICOLE 🕊 (@charllycolegh) February 19, 2025
