NCA orders shutdown of Radio Tongu in Sogakope

The National Communications Authority (NCA) has suspended the operations of Radio Tongu at Sogakope in the Volta Region “on the grounds of National Security and in the public interest.”This follows correspondence between the NCA and the Tongu Community Multimedia Network on the management of the station.

On January 15, 2020, the Director of the community radio station based at Sogakope, Bestway Zottor was arrested for allegedly promoting the agenda of the Homeland Study Group Foundation, a secessionist group in the region.

His arrest came a few days after the Volta Region Minister, Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, issued a warning to media houses in the region, with particular mention of Radio Tongu, to desist from championing separatists’ activities or risk being held answerable to applicable offences.

According to sources, the decision to arrest Mr Zottor was taken after a District Security Council (DISEC) meeting convened to consider contents of radio programme recordings available on social media, said to have been made by Mr Zottor on January 13, which allegedly bordered on security matters and sought to incite the public to engage in violent acts.

In the latest twist, a February 5 letter by the NCA sighted explained that the move was in accordance with the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act775) which provides that “the Authority may suspend or revoke a license or a frequency authorization where: the suspension or revocation is necessary because of national security or is in the public interest.”

While directing the FM station to cease operations with immediate effect, the letter signed by Director-General of the National Communications Authority Joe Anokye warned that “Failure to comply with this directive will result in the arrest and prosecution of the directors of Radio Tongu.”