Asaase Radio, a popular FM station in Ghana, has been shut down by the National Communications Authority (NCA) due to regulatory breaches. The station, which was set to celebrate its 5th anniversary on Saturday, failed to renew its license on time, with the renewal deadline being October 2024 but only being completed in December 2024.
According to Gabby Otchere-Darko, Board Chairman of Asaase Broadcasting Company, the station’s General Manager confirmed the shutdown due to the licensing delay. This development is part of a larger crackdown on FM stations in Ghana, with a total of 62 stations being shut down for similar regulatory breaches ² ¹.
Reasons for Shutdown:
– Expired Authorizations: 28 stations, including Asaase Radio, were found to be operating with expired authorizations.
– Failure to Establish Operations*: 14 stations had obtained authorization but failed to set up operations within two years, breaching regulatory timelines.
– Provisional Authorization: 13 stations are operating under provisional authorization despite having paid required fees.
The NCA has ordered the affected stations to submit new license applications and pay outstanding fines before they can resume broadcasting. The authority has also warned that continued non-compliance will result in further shutdowns.
This move is seen as a step towards sanitizing Ghana’s airwaves and ensuring compliance with broadcasting regulations. The NCA has emphasized the importance of adhering to licensing requirements to maintain the integrity of the broadcasting sector.