By Joycelyn Tseyiboe Ama
The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, has called for urgent reforms in Ghana’s broadcasting sector, warning that financial sustainability, ethical standards, and regulatory compliance must be strengthened to protect democracy and ensure the industry’s survival.
Speaking at a media policy forum in Accra, the Minister emphasized the need to balance editorial freedom with regulatory oversight, especially in the era of digital and new media.
“What you say is yours, but how you say it is regulated by us,” the Minister stated, underscoring the distinction between editorial discretion and adherence to broadcasting standards.
He warned against content that undermines public trust, citing “charlatans parading as men of God,” money-doubling schemes by fetish priests, and sexually explicit programming as examples of abuses that must be removed from the nation’s airwaves. “We cannot put today’s profits ahead of tomorrow’s sanity,” he said, calling on stakeholders to develop a roadmap to clean up broadcasting.
Outlining the government’s vision for the future, the Minister announced five priority areas. He said compliance with authorizations would be enforced, stressing that non-operational and persistently non-compliant stations would face withdrawal of licenses. On digital convergence, he noted that updated frameworks were needed to support hybrid broadcasting models across terrestrial, satellite, and internet platforms. He also called for greater investment in local content, professionalism, fact-checking, and media literacy to strengthen credibility. In addition, he urged broadcasters to embrace emerging technologies for efficiency and competitiveness. Finally, he highlighted the importance of regional benchmarking, noting that Ghana must learn from best practices to reinforce its media landscape.
He urged media houses to commit to higher standards of professionalism and warned that reforms and consolidations were necessary to restore the prestige of broadcast journalism.
“The future of Ghana’s broadcasting sector must be anchored in fairness, innovation, and resilience,” the Minister concluded. “There can be no higher law in journalism than to tell the truth and shame the devil, even if the devil is a politician.”
