I did not approve the shutdown of Radio XYZ, Radio Gold – Ursula Owusu

The Minister-nominee for Media and Digitisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, says she has no role to play in the closing of any radio station.

Speaking during her interview, Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful suggested that she had not approved the shutdown of radio stations with clear support from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The Ablekuma West Parliamentarian clarified that over fifty radio stations, including Radio XYZ, Montie FM, and Radio Gold, had been closed down for failing to renew their licenses since they had expired.

According to Ursula, who was suspected of harassing pro-NDC radio stations, “In 2017, following my charge to them [NCA] to apply the legislation through industries, not just broadcasting, the NCA carried out an audit exercise that revealed that 144 stations had performed a range of infringements that mandated them to be disciplined.

She continued that, ‘At the conclusion of the operation, 56 FM stations had been removed. Forty-three of these stations had requested fresh applications for authorization, of which 30 have been approved and were given a new license to function. I am told that the remaining 13 applications would be processed during the first quarter of 2021. The remaining 13 applications would then be processed by the end of March.

She assured the 26-member Appointments Committee that the closing of radio stations may not have been limited, arbitrary, or unjust, as alleged by her opponents.

By Bernard Ralph Adams