The new Governing Board of the National Communications Authority (NCA), Chaired by Isaac Emmil Osei-Bonsu, has approved new radio licence applications by Radio Gold, Radio XYZ and over 100 others.
The Board approved the applications at its meeting held on 11th October 2021.
It is not clear if the stations that are to reopen will still maintain their previous frequencies.
The Akufo-Addo administration from 2017 began enforcing the rules and regulations of the NCA which resulted in many radio stations which had fallen foul of the rules and regulations by not paying operating licence fees being shut down.
Two pro-opposition radio stations – Radio Gold and Radio XYZ, were closed following that exercise.
But the largest opposition party, the National Democratic Congress,[NDC] obviously not happy with that decision saw the move as discriminatory and accused the government of trying to silence critics.
However, the government insisted that the NCA was only applying the rules and regulations in line with Regulations 65(1) of the Electronic Communications Regulations, 2011, L. I. 1991, which states that “a person shall not use a radio frequency without authorization from the Authority”.