Accra, Thursday, June 12, 2025 — President John Dramani Mahama has intervened decisively in the ongoing regulatory dispute between the National Communications Authority (NCA) and dozens of radio stations whose broadcasts were recently halted.

In a directive issued today, President Mahama has instructed the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation to engage the NCA with immediate effect to reinstate the broadcast operations of 64 affected radio stations across the country.

The President’s decision comes in response to mounting public concern over the impact of regulatory enforcement on press freedom. According to the President, while regulatory compliance remains critical for the broadcasting sector, such measures must be balanced with Ghana’s longstanding commitment to media freedom and democratic expression.

“Requiring radio stations to shut down while awaiting the regularisation of their authorisation could limit the space for expressing such freedoms,” the President said through his spokesperson, Hon. Felix Kwakye Ofosu, who also serves as Member of Parliament and Minister for Government Communications.

President Mahama has also tasked the Communications Minister to collaborate with the NCA in establishing a “reasonable timeframe” within which the affected stations must complete their authorisation processes, in order to ensure full compliance with regulatory standards without silencing critical voices in the interim.

The shutdowns had sparked outcry from media advocacy groups, opposition politicians, and civil society organisations, many of whom viewed the move as a threat to pluralism and the democratic exchange of ideas.

With this presidential intervention, it is expected that broadcast services for the affected stations will be restored promptly, while efforts toward regulatory regularisation continue in earnest.

The development marks a significant moment in the intersection of regulation and rights, as the Mahama administration reaffirms its commitment to media freedom as a cornerstone of democratic governance.

Below is the letter released from the presidency;