NDC’s Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga says it is “unfortunate” for the National Communications Authority (NCA) to shut down some radio stations with claims that they owe the authority.
He advised that, owners of the affected radio stations must take legal actions with immediate effect if they think fees imposed on them by the NCA are illegal.
Ayariga's comments comes after the NCA last month revoked the licenses of some radio stations and imposed hefty fines on others.
There was a heated debate in Parliament on Thursday between the Majority and Minority sides of the House following a statement made in the House by the Minister of Communications, Mrs. Ursula Owusu- Ekuful, on the Radio Spectrum Audit carried out and the actions taken by the NCA to enforce the law on communication services in the country.
According Madam Ursula Owusu- Ekuful, the Nana Addo-led government is determined to apply the laws of the country and ensure sanity in all sectors.
She said it will therefore be absurd for one to suggest that the implementation of a law passed by Parliament is a threat to media plurality and a calculated attempt by government to kill some radio stations because of their perceived political bias.
Speaking on the issue in NEAT FM’s morning show dubbed ‘Ghana Montie’ the NDC lawmaker said “The NCA’s move is very unfortunate and I think the affected stations should head to court, see their lawyers so they can challenge the fees. I believe it’s just politically motivated and therefore going to court, will be the best because the courts will compel them to set a moderate fine.”
Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/ Twitter: @Washman5/ Instagram: Ambrose_wash
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Many of the commentators on here are ***barred word*** about this issue. The question is when was the law, being applied by the NCA passed in parliament ? If that is known, then calculate from when the law was passed till date if the amounts the NCA claim the radio stations owe as renewal fees and fines are correct? The NPP are the only ones defending this NO.N.SEN.CE
It is unfortunate that Ayariga is telling the whole Country that the laws they pass in parliament are not to be obeyed. They just pass the laws to earn their salaries and allowances, it is not important to obey them. Very strange. I think the people who sent him to parliament need to vote him out next time. He is a waste of space.
Why don't you say that it is unfortunate that these radio stations refused to live up to their responsibilities? You break the law, you get punished. If there is anything unfortunate about that, then it is the person breaking the law, not the one meting out the punishment
The LAWS someone is implementing was passed by somebody. He is NOT the one who passed the Law. The one who passed the Law DID NOT feel prudent to implement. We have been saying French countries surrounding Ghana apply their LAWS. How much More we here too CANNOT apply our Laws passed. We in this country always BEG for forgiveness for LAW BREAKERS. If we want our country to grow, we should STOP that. Everyone should know what to do. The various LAWS passed in previous Governments should be enforced this time round for us to do what is RIGHT.
What do you mean HOW much more that an ordinary Ice Water Seller pay her Ticket, House Owners paying Property Levies and a whole business entity will be operating for some years without paying anything to the State. Ghana has the best LAWS to Government but, whom you know is crippling them. These companies knew they have to PAY their Taxes but to the best of their Managements knowledge they have NOT BEEN paying anything to the State. The CURRENT GOVERNMENT NEED MONEY TO RUN THE STATE or to use it to Implement its SOCIAL INTERVENTIONS (e.g. Free SHS, Teachers/Nurses Allowances) for the benefits of the citizens. With this, the Government will CHASE and COLLECT every Ghana Pesewa in some people pockets. It should be understood that this is NOT WITCH HUNTING. Those Radio Stations which were paying their Taxes since it inception are operating, while wise one have been CLOSED down.
Just look at this issue from this perspective: If any entity attempted to transmit on the same frequencies of these affected radio stations, these houses would have reported to NCA for encroachment. Why? It is because they are the authorized stations to transmit on those frequencies. So, frequency spectrum being a state resource, you need authorization to use it. Justifiably so, these affected stations did the right thing by obtaining authorization. Now, to be able to retain your authorization, there is a fee to pay annually. The attitude and zeal the affected stations would have used to report encroachers to NCA, same should have been used to renew their authorization. THIS SUBCULTURE OF GHANAINS , ALWAYS BEGGING FOR LAWBREAKERS IS A SYMPTOM OF A FAILED STATE. NO CIVILIZED PERSON WILL BEG FOR A LAWBREAKER.They willfully broke the law!!IN DEVELOPED COUNTRIES, IF YOU BREAK THE LAW, WHO IS GOING TO BEG FOR YOU? If you live in Ghana, you think you are wise, when you have the opportunity to live and work in a developed country, you will know your size, as Justice Atuguba put it.