Mpraeso MP cautions Sam George over selective frequency audit

Davis Ansah Opoku (OPK), Member of Parliament for Mpraeso, has warned 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, 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.”

He emphasised that the Minister lacks the legal authority to instruct the NCA to audit or revoke frequency authorisations.

Any such review, OPK insisted, must be initiated by the NCA itself, following due process rather than through ministerial influence.

Beyond the issue of independence, OPK 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,” OPK stated.

He warned that attempts to selectively audit or revoke frequency authorisations could be seen as efforts to suppress press freedom and control media narratives.

He urged the Minister to uphold the NCA’s independence and allow the regulatory body to fulfil its mandate without unnecessary political interference.

Reaffirming the radio’s critical role in Ghana’s democracy, OPK stressed that media freedom must be safeguarded at all costs.

He called on Parliament to ensure that regulatory institutions operate transparently and fairly, guaranteeing that all Ghanaians have unrestricted access to various independent media voices.

-classfmonline