'Even NDC-owned radio stations weren’t spared' - Sam George says suspensions were legal, not targeted

Communications Minister Sam Nartey George has denied claims of political bias in recent radio station suspensions.

He spoke on Joy News’ PM Express on April 15. The Ningo Prampram MP stated that the National Communications Authority (NCA) acted legally. He emphasized that the actions were not influenced by ownership or party affiliations.

“Three of the six suspended stations have owners affiliated with the NDC,” he noted. He questioned how this could be a political move if it affected NDC affiliates. “I’m simply applying the law,” he added.

The Minister claimed he was unaware of station ownership during the suspension process. “When I asked for frequency authorizations, I didn’t ask about ownership,” he explained. He only requested names of companies with outstanding issues.

Sam George described a common reaction in Ghanaian politics. People often plead against legal actions, which surprised him. “I said, why is this big person…?” he recalled.

However, he remains unaffected by status or influence. “Oh, but you see me? I’m a small boy,” he said. He stressed that the law applies to everyone equally.

He invited Sulemana Braimah from the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) to discuss media freedoms. “I laid out facts about the six stations and showed him 53 others,” he stated.

According to him, MFWA now understands the government's position on this issue. “That’s why they haven’t made further comments,” he added.

The Minister plans to brief Parliament soon with evidence supporting his claims. “I intend to show them that this is not political,” he said.

He emphasized that laws must apply uniformly to all media houses. “You can’t pick and choose who obeys the law,” he stressed.

“It’s unfair if one media house meets obligations while another does not due to ownership.”

Sam George assured that press freedom is not under threat. “This is not about silencing voices; it’s about accountability.”