Sam George, the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, claims the National Communications Authority (NCA) is within its rights to close down 49 television networks that it believes are running without proper licenses.
He stated that the Authority’s decision is reasonable as long as sufficient evidence exists that the networks in question were acting unlawfully.
On Wednesday’s Eyewitness News, the legislator stated that the NCA, in addition to issuing a release, would need to detail the infractions committed by each of the networks to maintain justice and accountability.
“If you have not registered for and received a license from the NCA, you cannot and may not transmit. If they are broadcasting without the necessary registration and licence, they are violating the law, and the NCA has the authority to pull them off the air. We cannot have a condition in which someone wishes to broadcast anything they want.”
“We like to see the specifics of the infractions… What grounds do you have for terminating their broadcast rights? “However, as long as the [affected channels] continue to violate the rule, the NCA is within its rights,” he said.
The National Communications Authority (NCA) announced on Wednesday, April 21, 2021, that it plans to shut down 49 television channels in the country due to their failure to obtain proper licenses, in violation of Section 2 (4) of the Electronic Communications Act 775 of 2008.
Virgin TV, Kiss TV, Maranatha TV, Kwaku Bonsam TV, Obuor TV, and Thunder TV are among the impacted networks. Thunder TV’s creator, Patience Asiedua, popularly identified as Nana Agradaa, was detained during the exercise.
Sam George stated that the NCA would report the channels’ various infractions, including operating with expired licenses, operating without licenses, or violating the provisions of their licenses.
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He said that Parliament’s National Democratic Congress (NDC) Caucus “would support it if the reasons [given by the NCA] are contrary to the constitution.”
He stated that the Parliamentary Select Committee on Communications would recommend inviting the NCA to advise them on the shutdown exercise’s specifics, as well as other communications sector developments.
SOURCE: ATLFMONLINE
