62 FM broadcasting stations across the country have been ordered by the National Communications Authority (NCA) to suspend operations with immediate effect for breaching key regulatory requirements.
In a statement issued on Thursday, June 12, the NCA said the directive follows an audit which revealed persistent violations of licensing conditions and non-compliance with the Electronic Communications Regulations, 2011 (L.I. 1991), as well as the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775).
The crackdown is in line with a directive from the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, to ensure full enforcement of sanctions against non-compliant operators in the broadcasting sector.
According to the NCA, the affected stations fall into four major categories of infractions, including operating with expired authorisations, failure to establish within two years after authorisation, default in payment of provisional authorisation fees, and non-issuance of final authorisation due to regulatory lapses.
“Twenty-eight (28) stations were ordered by the NCA in 2024 to cease broadcasting but have persisted in the illegality. This represents a violation of Section 2(4) of the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775),” the statement noted.
Another 14 stations that failed to commence operations within the stipulated time but remained on air despite outstanding lapses have also been flagged.
13 other stations that were issued provisional authorisations but have not fully settled their fees, and seven others who are yet to receive final clearance, have also been ordered to halt operations.
“These stations currently do not hold valid broadcasting authorisations or do not have a certificate of compliance to commence operations and may only resume operations once all regulatory infractions have been addressed and rectified,” the NCA said.
“Failure to comply with this directive shall constitute an affront to the prescribed conditions for FM broadcasting with grave consequences for their authorisations,” it further warned.
