The Minister of Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Sam George, has ordered the immediate closure of Gumah FM, a Bawku-based radio station, over alleged security concerns.
The decision, issued on Tuesday, February 18, follows intelligence gathered by the Upper East Regional Security Council (REGSEC), which reportedly found the station culpable of inciting violence and escalating tensions in the conflict-ridden area.
“At an emergency meeting held on February 11, 2025, REGSEC extensively reviewed recent security developments in Bawku and parts of the North East Region. Intelligence reports indicate that Gumah FM Station has been used as a platform to incite violence, disrupt public order, and escalate tensions in the region,” the ministry’s statement read.
The directive is backed by Section 13 (1)(e) of the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775), which allows the National Communications Authority (NCA) to suspend or revoke a station’s frequency in the interest of national security and public order.
“The directive to shut down the station is issued in accordance with the law to prevent further instability,” the statement emphasized.
The Ministry added that Gumah FM must cease all operations with immediate effect, and strict monitoring measures will be enforced to ensure the station does not operate under a different guise to continue spreading dangerous rhetoric.
While government authorities argue the move is necessary to maintain peace, the decision has sparked mixed reactions.
Some stakeholders in the media and civil rights sectors have questioned whether the shutdown was a justified security measure or an attack on press freedom.
Others worry about the precedent it sets, warning that political motivations could influence future media closures.
However, with Bawku still grappling with long-standing ethnic and political tensions, the government insists that preventing further conflict takes precedence over concerns about censorship.
