Former Central Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Bernard Allotey Jacobs says he won’t blame President Nana Akufo-Addo for the closure of Radio Gold and Radio XYZ which was undertaken by the National Communications Authority (NCA).
According to him, he does not want to believe that President Akufo-Addo was aware of the shutdown of the radio stations but he should come out and speak on the issue.
“When you are in power, it is about rule of law and when you are in opposition, it is about witch-hunting. I will not want to believe that Akufo-Addo is behind this closure of the radio stations but he should come out and speak on the issue to allow the issue to rest.
“I will not point accusing finger at Akufo Addo,” he said on Adom FM’s Morning Show ‘Dwaso Nsem,Tuesday.
The NCA, which is a regulator of spectrum in the country, on Thursday stormed the premises of the two opposition affiliated stations and shut them down as they were broadcasting live a press event by the NDC’s Council of Elders.
“Radio stations operating without valid authorisations as determined by the 2017 FM Broadcasting Audit are being shut down with immediate effect as enforcement action in view of the decision of the Electronic Communications Tribunal,” the NCA said.
However, Mr Jacobs, who describes himself as a social commentator, said the timing for the exercise was bad.
He believes the President rules through the lenses of people around him and he suspect’s people are using their status to stifle people’s expressions and advocacy.
“We need the radio stations to operate and so when you have people around the President making decisions without him knowing it is very bad and should not be entertained,” he noted.
Obrempong-Nana Kwaku Ampomah 