By Seli Baisie
UNESCO Ghana has held a high-level consultation with key stakeholders to review Ghana’s long-awaited Broadcasting Bill, focusing particularly on the role and future of community broadcasting.
The meeting, which took place on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at the Alisa Hotel in Accra, brought together representatives from the National Communications Authority (NCA), the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA), the Ghana Community Radio Network (GCRN), and the National Media Commission (NMC), among others.
Opening the session, Mr Edmund Moukala, Head of the UNESCO Office in Accra, said the meeting was part of efforts to ensure Ghana’s media laws reflect inclusivity, local participation, and democratic values.
He described community broadcasting as a vital tool for development. “Broadcasting legislation presents a strong opportunity to regulate and strengthen the media landscape by recognising and empowering community broadcasting,” Mr Moukala said. “Community media provides a platform for marginalised groups to share their stories and drive local development.”
He emphasized that community broadcasting plays a crucial role in promoting social cohesion, access to information, and participatory democracy. However, he acknowledged existing challenges such as limited funding, poor infrastructure, and regulatory hurdles.
“We hope the bill will systematically address these issues,” Mr Moukala added. “It must encourage innovation without stifling creativity and ensure the regulatory process is transparent and inclusive.”
Acting Director-General of the National Communications Authority, Rev. Ing. Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko, also shared the regulator’s perspective on the draft bill. He noted that the current legal framework limits the NCA’s authority largely to the technical regulation of the broadcasting spectrum.
“We’ve faced challenges with assigning new frequencies due to overcrowding in some areas,” he explained. “Some broadcasters continue to operate with expired authorisations or fail to meet technical standards, causing interference.”
Rev. Fianko highlighted a longstanding debate between the NCA and NMC over who should have the final say on authorising broadcasting services. “There’s been contention around who assigns frequency authorisation for FM broadcasting,” he said. “We’ve tried all options in the book, adjacent channel spacing, frequency reuse—but spectrum availability remains a challenge.”
He stressed that for community broadcasting to thrive, enforcement of existing rules and cooperation between institutions must improve.
The meeting formed part of broader efforts to ensure that Ghana’s broadcasting bill, which has been in draft form for years, is finally passed in a way that supports freedom of expression, empowers community voices, and aligns with international standards.
About Broadcasting Bill
The Broadcasting Bill is a proposed law aimed at regulating radio, TV, and other broadcast media in the country. It seeks to clearly define the roles of institutions like the National Media Commission (NMC) and the National Communications Authority (NCA), promote Ghanaian content, and support public and community media through a development fund.
The Bill has been in development since 2009 and is intended to modernize Ghana’s media landscape, support press freedom, and resolve institutional overlaps. It also includes provisions for digital broadcasting and aims to combat misinformation. Despite several drafts over the years, the Bill is yet to be passed by Parliament. Stakeholders continue to advocate for its swift approval to ensure a more structured and independent media environment in Ghana.
