Gov’t moves to regulate media content, safeguard viewers under Broadcasting Bill

The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has started discussions on the Broadcasting Bill.

This Bill will focus on content regulation and classification. It aims to harmonise the roles of media regulators for constitutional alignment.

Key players attended the meeting, including the National Media Commission (NMC) and the National Film Authority (NFA). The Minister for Government Communications, Hon. Felix Ofosu Kwakye (MP), was also present.

Their goal is to clarify the regulatory landscape and align proposed legislation with Ghana’s constitutional freedoms. A major emphasis was on creating clear guidelines for content regulation and enforcement.

This issue has been a grey area in Ghana’s media ecosystem. Concerns include unregulated content, inappropriate programming, and a lack of a unified classification system. These issues have made the bill a national priority.

Mr. Sam George announced that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed soon. This MoU will formalise cooperation among regulatory bodies like the NFA, NMC, and National Communications Authority (NCA).

It is expected to support local content development and ethical broadcasting. “This is about protecting viewers and listeners, especially children,” said Hon. George.

He added that the Broadcasting Bill will empower creative freedom and innovation while regulating content. The meeting made significant progress in addressing contentious areas.

It also set the stage for broader industry consultations in the coming months. The Minister expressed optimism about achieving a balanced regulatory framework soon. This framework would uphold freedom of expression alongside responsibility and accountability.