Akufo-Addo orders Minister to Suspend Directive for GBC to reduce Channels
Jonas Danquah 
The President, Nana Akufo-Addo has directed the Minister for Communications, Madam Ursula Owusu-Ekuful to suspend the move to reduce the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation channels from six to three on the DTT platform.
A statement from the Presidency noted that:
“The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Thursday, 23rd July 2020, directed the Minister for Communications, Hon. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, MP, to suspend the implementation of the directives given to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), in connection with the reduction of GBC’s channels on the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) platform, pending further consultation with stakeholders.
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The National Media Commission had earlier questioned the Communications Ministry ‘authority’ to order the GBC to reduce its channels.
According to the NMC, the move by the Communications Ministry is outside its remits and a usurpation of the Commission’s powers.
Therefore, the Commission has determined that “the directive given to GBC and Crystal TV by the Minister for Communications purports to usurp the constitutional mandate and authority of the National Media Commission and same cannot be obliged under our current constitutional dispensation.”
Background
The Minister for Communication, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful in a June 26 letter directed GBC to reduce its channels from six to three.
URSULA OWUSU
The Minister of Communications Ursula therefore, told the state broadcaster to “consolidate” its programs within two months.
Digital channels run by GBC include GTV Sports+ (a channel for sports), GBC 24 (a 24-hour news TV channel) and GTV Life (religion and culture channel), GTV Govern (a governance channel), Obonu TV (a channel for the people of Greater Accra and window for the Ga-Dangbe).
In a letter addressed to the Director-General of GBC, dated 26th June 2020, the Minister said the decision was to free space on the National Digital Terrestrial Television platform,
