Accra-based Radio Gold has announced it is back on air after five years off-air due to political persecution by the Akufo-Addo government.
In a statement dated 16th of March, 2022 the station announced it is starting test transmission for one month.
“Please be informed that Radio Gold 90.5FM has started test transmission. This test will last for one month, after which regular programming will commence. We wish to sincerely express our appreciation to individuals, groups and organizations which championed our return on air. Thank you for your advocacy and support for getting Radio Gold 90.5FM back on the air,” the statement said.
In 2017, after the despot, Akufo-Addo became president, he went after Radio Gold and other media houses perceived to be pro-NDC.
Radio Gold which boasted a listenership of more than 5million was forcibly taken off air one afternoon while the station was broadcasting.
The government had used the excuse that the station, along with some 33 other electronic media houses had neglected to renew their operation licenses.
According to the National Communications Authority (NCA) which carried out the closures, they were carried out in line with regulation 65 (1) of the electronic communications regulations 2011, L.I. 1991.
Even though the claim was that the station had been operating without proper authorization, it was to emerge later that Radio Gold and other stations including Radio XYZ, had made efforts to renew their licenses but the Communication Ministry, led by Ursula Owusu Ekuful, had deliberately refused to allow the renewal.
Ursula Owusu had even snubbed Parliament’s committee on Communications which had urged the government to allow the stations back on line.
Also, it later emerged that even though the government claimed that the stations had been closed down for non-renewal of license, pro NPP stations, Oman FM and Net 2 had actually not renewed their licenses for a long time but had been allowed to operate.
For many, it has become clear that the reason Gold was taken off air was so that Akufo-Addo would have a free hand to rig the 2020 elections without any critical media house playing the needed watchdog role.