Group to demonstrate next week over shut down of radio stations

The Free Media Vanguards, a group protesting the closure of some radio stations in the country say they will stage a demonstration in Accra on Tuesday, May 21, 2019, against the National Communications Authority (NCA) over its recent actions.

So far, about six radio stations have been shut down; including pro-opposition stations Radio Gold and Radio XYZ.

The group says the move by the NCA is an abuse of its powers and a suppression of press freedom.

Convener of the group, Prince Minkah told Citi News that they will present a petition to the NCA to rescind its decision.

“We are embarking on this demonstration in order to drum home our consistent message on the need for all Ghanaians especially journalists to rise up against this trend of media suppression in our country.”

The group was cleared this week by the police to embark on the protest from the El-Wak Sports Stadium to the Airport area, where the NCA office is located.

Prince Minkah said the protest is non-political and the group will also petition Parliament over the matter.

The National Communications Authority (NCA) has insisted that the closures are due to non-compliance with the laid down license regulations but that has been discounted by managers of some of the affected radio stations including the CEO of Radio Gold, Agyenim Boateng who described the NCA’s action as “unprecedented in the history of Ghana.”

The group on Friday held a vigil at the forecourt of Radio Gold, Lartebiokorshie in Accra.

Mr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Sylvester Mensah, Okudzeto Ablakwa, CEO of Radio Gold, James Agyenim Boateng, Head of News at XYZ, Eric Ahianyo, President of the Ghana Journalists Association, Affail Monney, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper among others took turns to address participants at the vigil last Friday.

Source: citinewsroom.com