The UNESCO Accra Office convened a high-level consultation on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at the Alisa Hotel in North Ridge, Accra, to deliberate on Ghana’s long-anticipated Broadcasting Bill, with particular focus on the role, regulation, and future of Community Broadcasting.
The event marked a critical moment in Ghana’s media reform process, drawing together regulators, key players, actors, and media professionals.
This is one in the series of many more of similar of engagements to come.
The consultation, organized as part of UNESCO’s broader mandate to support freedom of expression and inclusive access to information, served both as a technical engagement and a platform to raise public awareness around the Broadcasting Bill—a piece of legislation that has been in development for nearly three decades.
The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including regulatory bodies: NMC, NCA, Key expert consultants, Ghana Community Radio Network, Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association and other media organizations.
Together, participants examined the provisions of the draft legislation and explored its implications for the future of broadcasting in Ghana, especially the regulation of community-based media.
A Bill Decades In The Making
Opening remarks were delivered by Chairman of the day, veteran media advocate and academic, Professor Kwame Karikari, who provided a historical context for the proposed legislation.
He traced the Broadcasting Bill’s journey back to the late 90s, when a coalition—comprising the Ghana Bar Association, the Christian Council, media groups, and civil society organizations—began advocating for a comprehensive media legislation.
“The bill has been in and out of Parliament and through multiple administrations—from Rawlings to Akufo-Addo,” Professor Karikari stated. “Despite numerous drafts, reviews, and consultations, its passage has never been prioritized by any government. This shows the inherently political nature of media regulation in Ghana.”
Professor Karikari emphasized the transformative changes in the media landscape over the years, highlighting the exponential growth of radio stations—now over 600 nationwide—and the complex regulatory environment surrounding frequency management and content standards.
He called for a sensitive, updated review of the bill to reflect technological advancements and evolving democratic needs.
Community Broadcasting: A Voice For The Marginalized
In his remarks, Edmond Koubala, UNESCO’s Ghana Country Director, underscored the essential role of community broadcasting in fostering inclusive development, civic participation, and cultural identity.
“Community radio gives marginalized and rural populations a chance to express their concerns, ideas, and stories,” Koubala noted. “It promotes participatory communication, where community members are not just consumers but also creators of content.”
Koubala stressed that community media offers a unique and indispensable voice to underserved communities.
He highlighted the challenges facing this sector, such as limited funding, infrastructure gaps, and regulatory uncertainty, adding that the Broadcasting Bill presents a “historic opportunity” to support community media as a dynamic force for democratic participation and national cohesion.
Toward A Balanced And Inclusive Media Framework
The draft Broadcasting Bill aims to consolidate existing media laws, clearly define institutional responsibilities—particularly between the National Media Commission (NMC) and the National Communications Authority (NCA)—and introduce comprehensive standards for content regulation, licensing, and digital broadcasting.
Crucially, the Bill seeks to address the ethical and social implications of independent broadcasting, promote accountability, and ensure that media operations contribute to national unity and public morality without infringing on press freedom.
Participants expressed the urgent need for regulatory clarity and greater transparency in frequency allocation and media oversight.
Concerns were also raised about instances where traditional authorities have unilaterally shut down community radio stations, underscoring the need for a legal framework that protects media independence while enforcing responsible broadcasting.
Private Legal Practioner Samson Lardy Anyenini in a presentation “Towards Broadcasting ACT that promotes Vibrant Community Broadcast Media” highlighted what the entire Bill in its current state entails.
“The current draft Broadcasting Bill 2024 is derived from and traceable to the 2009 Bill as later revised in 2014, 2019 and 2021.
The Bill is a bold effort at a comprehensive or consolidated legislation for the sector. The Bill, is now re- designated 2024 and should soon become 2025 if persued this year.
The Bill proposes a commendable community broadcasting regime emphasizing community ownership and participation with potential tax holidays. But a careful scrutiny will reveal the need for a review to achieve the objects of community broadcasting.”
Looking Ahead: A Call To Action
The consultation concluded with a call for an inclusive and participatory legislative process that reflects the voices of all stakeholders, especially those operating in and serving grassroots communities.
Stakeholders unanimously agreed that the time is ripe for Ghana to pass a modern, forward-looking Broadcasting Bill that aligns with international standards on freedom of expression and access to information.
“The Broadcasting Bill is not just a regulatory document,” Koubala concluded. “It is a vehicle for social inclusion, local empowerment, and democratic destiny.
Let us seize this opportunity to build a media landscape where every citizen—no matter how remote—can hear, see, and be seen.”
As Ghana stands at a crossroads in shaping the future of its media environment, the dialogue fostered by UNESCO underscores the need for political will, institutional commitment, and active civic engagement to ensure the Broadcasting Bill becomes a tool for empowerment, not control.
