Davis Ansah Opoku, Member of Parliament for Mpraeso, has cautioned the Minister for Communications, Samuel Nartey George, against undermining the independence of the National Communications Authority (NCA) through a selective frequency audit.
While speaking in the House of Parliament on February 13, the lawmaker reminded members that the NCA is an independent regulatory body established under Section 9 of the Electronic Communications Act 2008 (Act 775), which clearly states:
“Except as otherwise provided in this Act, the Authority shall not be subject to the direction or control of any person or authority in performing its functions.”
His comments come after Mr Nartey George directed the Acting Director-General of the National Communications Authority (NCA), Rev. Ing. Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko to submit a comprehensive list of all frequency authorizations issued or renewed in the past 60 days.
The Communications Minister said the directive is in line with the government’s Operation Recover All Loot initiative, aimed at reclaiming State resources that have been allocated to private entities through unlawful or improper means.
Mr George revealed that the audit marks the first phase of a broader review of frequency authorizations to bring order and transparency to the broadcasting sector.
However, Mr Ansah Opoku emphasised that the Minister lacks the legal authority to instruct the NCA to audit or revoke frequency authorisations.
Any such review, the MP said, must be initiated by the NCA itself, following due process rather than through ministerial influence.
Beyond the issue of independence, Mr Opoku questioned the rationale behind the Minister’s directive to audit only those frequency authorisations granted in the past 60 days.
He argued that if the true objective was transparency and regulatory compliance, the audit should encompass all frequency allocations rather than concentrating on a narrow and arbitrary timeframe that could be politically motivated.
“Radio is the heartbeat of our democracy. It serves as a valve for people to air their views on issues that bother them—a practice that has sustained our democracy,” the Mpraeso MP stated.
He warned that attempts to selectively audit or revoke frequency authorisations could be seen as efforts to control media narratives.
He urged the Minister to allow the NCA to fulfil its mandate without unnecessary political interference.
Mr Opoku called on Parliament to ensure that regulatory institutions operate transparently and fairly, guaranteeing that all Ghanaians have unrestricted access to various independent media voices.
