NMCs role must be expanded to include frequency and spectrum authorisation for media houses - JoyNews' Kwaku Asante

Kwaku Asante, a Senior Broadcast Journalist at JoyNews, has made a proposal. He suggests that the National Media Commission (NMC) should control broadcast frequencies. Currently, this responsibility lies with the National Communications Authority (NCA).

Asante spoke before the Constitutional Review Committee in Accra on May 14. He believes that the NCA's focus on media issues is limited. This situation makes frequency allocation vulnerable to political interference.

He stated, “The mandate for frequency allocation should be taken from the NCA.” Asante shared his views on reviewing the Constitution, focusing mainly on media issues. He also discussed including private associations and presidential powers.

He noted that many lawmakers own media outlets. When they lose power, they struggle to access frequency authorisations. “Nearly half of Members of Parliament own media houses,” he said.

Asante recommended moving only the frequency authorisation function to the NMC. He emphasized that merging both institutions is unnecessary. The NMC is better suited to regulate broadcasting fairly and professionally.

He urged the Committee to create a framework for judicial review of NMC decisions. While he has concerns about giving the Commission summoning powers, he stressed legal checks are important.

“We need a legal framework for appealing NMC decisions,” he said. This would provide an alternative forum for those who believe in inadequate expertise from the NMC.

Kwaku Asante was invited by Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh’s Committee to share insights on reviewing Ghana's 1992 Constitution.