Media advocacy group— Free Media Vanguard (FMV) has warned the National Communications Authority to open closed radio stations — Radio Gold and XYZ which it shut down under questionable circumstances in May 2019.

NCA after shutting down the two Accra-based radio stations and others in some parts of the country said the stations had no authorisation. But Radio XYZ and Gold have denied working without authorisation, stressing they were in the process of getting back their expired licenses when they were ordered to shut down on May 9.

After about 6 weeks of discussions with the NCA to get the frequencies back, FMV says it has credible information from “deep throat sources” that the NCA should give Radio XYZ back its frequency to operate.

Convener for the group, Prince Minkah said in a statement on Thursday that despite the group’s protest which is yielding results, it has “established that there appears to be another authority refusing to yield to the order to have the station reopened.”

“We are by this press release notifying these unseen hands in the corridors of power to simply eat a humble pie and prove to the world that there is no suppression of the freedom of the media. We will in the coming days notify the diplomatic community, our development partners, and both domestic and international media of this suppression, and possibly follow up with various forms of protest,” Prince Minkah added.

Below is the statement.

OPEN RADIO STATIONS NOW OR FACE OUR WRATH—FMV

20th June, 2019

We have gathered from deep throat sources a credible order to have radio XYZ reopened. It can be recalled that radio XYZ was one of the many radio stations shutdown by an NCA operation. The Free Media Vanguard concertedly campaigned for the reopening of the radio stations, on the grounds that the closure constitutes a subversion of media freedoms. Our efforts, as we have gathered, are poised to yield results any time soon. We have, however, established that there appear to be another authority refusing to yield to the order to have the station reopened.

We are by this press release notifying these unseen hands in the corridors of power to simply eat a humble pie and prove to the world that there is no suppression of the freedom of the media. We will in the coming days notify the diplomatic community, our development partners, and both domestic and international media of this suppression, and possibly follow up with various forms of protest.

We, therefore, call on the authorities to as a matter of urgency and in the interest of our democratic freedoms, restore the broadcasting rights of Radio XYZ and all radio stations unjustifiably shut down by the NCA to advance a political agenda.

Thank you.

Prince Minkah

Convener
0207924806