The Media Foundation for West Africa has hailed a Presidential decision to suspend a directive issued by Communications Minister to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation to take off some of it’s channels from the Digital Terrestrial Television platform.
Ms. Ursula Owusu had issued a directive to the state broadcaster to reduce its six channels on the DTT to three, a directive which was met with forceful opposition from the minority, MFWA and other stakeholders.
Barely a day after the National Media Commission shot down the directive and described it as unconstitutional, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo instructed the communications minister to suspend the decision for further stakeholders engagement.
“The president of the Republic, Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo Addo, on Thursday July 23rd 2020, directed the Minister of Communications, Hon. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, MP, to suspend the implementation of the directives given to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) in connection with the reduction of GBC’s channels on the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) platform, pending further consultation with stakeholders” a statement from the Presidency said.
The MFWA has since welcomed the Presidential decision.
“The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) welcomes the Presidential decision to suspend the execution of a Ministerial order to the state-owned Ghana Broadcasting Corporation GBC to surrender three of its six Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) channels, a directive the MFWA had challenged as illegal and inimical.”
The Foundation further called on the committee tasked to map out strategies to reform GBC to complete its work in order to bring clarity to the way forward for the state broadcaster.
“The MFWA therefore hails the decision by the President as timely and appropriate. We also commend the National Media Commission for asserting its authority over GBC and constitutional obligation to insulate the state media against executive interference,” the statement added.
