'Expired and illegal' - Sam George on over 50 broadcast license renewals

Communications Minister Sam Nartey George has highlighted “clear cases of abuse” in renewing broadcast frequency licenses.

The Ningo Prampram MP announced a full audit under the government’s ‘Operation Recover All Loot’ (ORAL) initiative.

During an interview on Joy News’ PM Express, he shared serious concerns about illegally renewed frequency authorizations. Some of these renewals occurred as recently as January 3, 2025.

“This is not just high-level talk,” the Minister stated. He emphasized that spectrum is a limited national resource and described the situation as fraud.

“You don’t renew an expired frequency authorization; you apply fresh,” he said. The law is clear on this matter.

He referenced the Justice Doste ruling in the Radio Gold vs. NCA case. This ruling confirmed that once a license expires, it cannot be renewed; it must be reapplied for entirely.

“It’s not a driver’s license,” he stressed. “If it lapses, it’s gone.”

Sam George reported over 50 infractions documented by the National Communications Authority (NCA). Among these, 12 cases are “very clear-cut.”

He accused politically connected individuals of hastily filing renewal applications after the 2020 elections, long after their licenses expired.

“In their panic, they didn’t file fresh applications,” he noted. Instead, they filed renewals which were improperly converted into new licenses by the board.

Despite these legal breaches, President Mahama advised a restrained approach: “He said don’t revoke; engage them.”

The plan is to suspend those licenses and invite them to regularize their paperwork.

However, George warned that impunity would no longer be tolerated.

“I have a legal opinion that all those renewals are null and void,” he stated firmly. He added that due to compassion from the government, they are allowing corrections.

Six radio stations have already had their licenses suspended for administrative non-compliance. One station, GUMAH FM, had its license revoked due to national security issues related to the Bawku conflict.

“That revocation is final,” he affirmed.

When asked if this crackdown could be seen as media censorship, George was unconcerned.

“This is not about press freedom; it’s about fairness,” he explained. He questioned why compliant media like Multimedia should operate alongside those who do not meet obligations.

Any media house failing to meet tax and documentation requirements will face suspension, according to him.

“I have met with the Media Foundation for West Africa and shown them data,” he said. The next step involves GIBA engagement to ensure transparency in operations.

For Sam George, this initiative is personal: “There’s a reason we call it Operation Recover All.”

He aims to recover every public resource misallocated or stolen—frequency spectrum included—and insists that laws will be strictly enforced.