GIBA in a statement stressed that, attacks of these nature carried no message except to demonstrate intolerance and misunderstanding of the rights of individuals in a democratic dispensation.

“GIBA wishes to state that, these acts of violence are against the laws of Ghana and are criminal no matter the cause or provocation,” it said in the statement.

GIBA believes broadcasters and Radio stations represent a wide spectrum of opinion, and are mandated to present all shades of ideas and views to the public, hence the provision for right to rejoinder in the constitution of Ghana.

GIBA says it has faith in the security agencies, and believes they will bring the perpetrators of these acts to book in no time.

“We hope the punishment that will follow will be deterrent enough to discourage similar acts in future. We also wish to, in the same light, encourage our members to look again at the security of their premises and access into their studios going forward. We extend our sympathies to the management of Justice FM and assure them of every support in pursuing this matter to a just conclusion.”

“We also wish to appeal to the general public to make use of the legitimate avenues for resolving and or addressing differences anytime they feel a broadcaster has not been fair to them.”

Thugs attack Radio Justice, console and computers destroyed

The main console, microphones, computers and other valuables were vandalized. The motive behind the attack is yet to be established.

The thugs invaded the studios when leadership of the Dagbon Malimi Zungo (DAMAZ), was advocating the need for everlasting peace, reconciliation and unity in Dagbon.

They suffered from severe injuries, whilst their vehicles and motorcycle keys were seized.

Management has since lodged an official complaint with the Tamale Metropolitan police command and investigations are underway.

The station suffered from a similar attack on March 11, 2014 during a political talk show.

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By: Farida Yusuf/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post GIBA condemns attack on Tamale-based Radio Justice appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This according to the Authority, is to allow the tribunal to hear the substantive case brought by GIBA against them, in the interest of its members.

The Authority thus explained that, the sanctions against the over 100 other stations who are not part of the GIBA court action still holds.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Wn7wwDgeohSEp2MyruCX9RG8hUmqQnOh”]The Tribunal ordered that, pending the final determination of the case that had been brought before it by the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA), the NCA must not apply the penalties imposed on the nine defaulting stations.

The President of GIBA, Andrew Anninkora, who confirmed the court’s directive to Citi News, said the decision was taken after the Association filed an application at the Tribunal on November 3, 2017, seeking redress for its affected members.

The NCA, which had no representative in court during the ruling, in a statement copied to Citifmonline.com, clarified that the ruling affected only nine radio stations, and not all the 131 as reported in sections of the media.

“The stay of execution thus applies to the nine appellants whose authorizations would have been revoked after a deadline. The sanctions as imposed on the rest of the stations still hold until the NCA announces otherwise,” it clarified.

“The nine radio stations being represented by GIBA will have a stay of execution until the substantive case is heard,” it added.

Back in September, some 131 radio stations, including Accra-based Radio Gold, Atlantis Radio and Radio XYZ, 3-FM, were either fined or had their licenses revoked by the National Communications Authority (NCA), following the completion of a nationwide FM Spectrum Audit.

Radio XYZ was fined GHc 4,090,000, Atinka FM GHc 14,800,000, while Radio Gold and Atlantis Radio picked up the heftiest fines with GHc 61,330,000 and GHc 60, 350,000 respectively.

Accra-based Okay FM and Kumasi-based Hello FM, both under the Despite group, were shut down briefly as a result of the failure to pay their fines.

However, in an act of leniency, the Ministry of Communications and the National Communications Authority (NCA), slashed the fines for the sanctioned commercial FM Broadcasting stations by 50 percent.

The stations were also given additional 30 days to pay the slashed fines, which has since elapsed.

Below is the NCA’s statement

The Electronic Communications Tribunal has adjourned the case in which the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) had filed an appeal at the Tribunal seeking redress for nine of its members affected by the September 2017 sanctions.

The Electronic Communications (Rules of Procedure of the Electronic Communications Tribunal) Regulations 2016, LI 2235 states in Regulation 9 headed ‘Effect of an Appeal’ that:

(1) An appeal shall not operate as a stay of execution in respect of the decision or order appealed against except where the tribunal otherwise determines.

(2) Despite sub regulation (1), an appellant may reply to the Tribunal by motion on notice for a stay of execution of the decision or order that the appellant has appealed against.

(3) A decision or order that is the subject of an appeal shall be stayed when an application under sub regulation (2) is pending.

(4) The Authority shall stay the execution of a decision or an order where a. the Tribunal makes an order under sub regulation (2) to that effect; or b. an application under sub regulation (2) is pending.

It was based on this that the Tribunal adjourned the hearing at the request of the NCA. It is instructive to note that, the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) is a voluntary 2 the | Page association which is representing just 9 out of the 131 stations the NCA sanctioned in September.

The stay of execution thus applies to the nine appellants whose authorisations would have been revoked after a deadline. The sanctions as imposed on the rest of the stations still hold until the NCA announces otherwise.

The nine radio stations being represented by GIBA will have a stay of execution until the substantive case is heard. They are Mascott Multi-Service Limited (Atlantis Radio 87.9FM), Supermax Media Company (Max 102.9FM, Kalvice Company Limited (Kaleawo 107.3FM), Network Broadcasting Limited (Radio Gold 90.5FM), Progress Multimedia Limited (Radio Hogbe 106.5FM), Digital Broadcasting Systems Company Limited (Vision 90.9FM), Singwado Broadcasting Company (Radio Silver 92.3FM), Trickie FM Limited (Trickie 99.5FM) and Gary Express Service Limited (Beach 105.5FM).

The Authority wishes to inform the public that until the hearing is concluded, efforts will be made to ensure compliance from all Licencees and Authorisation Holders.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post GIBA case over 9 radio stations still in court – NCA appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

GIBA in a communiqué copied to citifmonline.com, said it had gathered some evidence in the matter that makes it necessary for the NCA to “properly address the issues of the affected members.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”UD5Gc8kZFN1LFD4P1JqgGQOsrhggy1sA”]“We have interacted with a lot of our members who expressed displeasure over the sanctions meted out to them by the NCA. We have thus collected evidence from some of these members which indicate the need to engage the NCA to properly address the issues of the affected members. The Members have therefore mandated the leadership of GIBA to intervene on their behalf in this matter,” GIBA said.

GIBA added that, it was looking forward to engaging the NCA on behalf of the affected stations over the revocation of their authorizations and imposition of “massive fines and penaltie.”

The NCA last week sanctioned 131 FM stations across the country for various infractions on their authorizations.

While some FM stations were sanctioned for non-payment of monies they owed the NCA, others were sanctioned because they had failed to renew their authorizations yet were operating, thus illegally.

Among the FM stations that were sanctioned were Accra-based Radio Gold, Atlantis Radio, 3-FM, and Radio XYZ.

Radio XYZ has been fined GHc 4,090,000, Atinka FM fined GHc 14,800,000 whiles Radio Gold and Atlantis Radio picked up the heftiest fines with GHc 61,330,000 and GHc 60,350,000 respectively.

The affected radio stations that were fined have been given 30-days to pay the fines or risk having their licenses revoked.

But some have indicated that they are unable to pay the fines.

Meanwhile, GIBA has said it is scheduling a meeting with the NCA to discuss the matter and find an amicable solution to it.

“We have written to the NCA requesting for a meeting on Friday, October 6, 2017 to discuss the issues emanating from our preliminary investigations carried out,” it statement said, adding that all affected FM stations are “to submit to the GIBA National Secretariat all relevant documentation in relation to the spectrum/regulatory payments and other complaints,” to make their intervention on the matter easier.

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By: Michael Ogbodu/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post GIBA petitions NCA; requests dialogue over radio station sanctions appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The elected executive members’ tenure which begins from June 2017, will expire in June 2020.

At its Annual General Meeting held in the Ashanti Regional capital Kumasi on Thursday, 8th June, 2017, Mr. Andrew Danso Anninkora of Kessben FM, and former Executive Council member of the Association, was elected as the new President of the Association.

Other executive members elected were, Mr Ernest Boateng of eTV, as Vice-President; Mr Matthew Martin Anderson of Aseda FM; Mr George Fausta Baffoe of Kantinka FM; Mr. Prince Hari Crystal of Crystal TV; Mr. Cecil Thomas Sunkwa-Mills of GoTV; and Mr Klaus Vonbackustein of GhOne TV were also elected to serve as executive members.

The new president, Mr. Andrew Danso Anninkora, expressed his gratitude to the members of the Association for the confidence reposed in him and the other executives, and promised to ensure sanity on Ghana’s airwaves.

He said in a Citi News interview that, “One of the things we want to do is to bring up people to understand that we owe this country a service. It’s not about making money, but the fact that at the end of the day, what are we giving to society at large? We have to let people understand that we are working within the laws of this country, it must be beneficial to the people of this country.”

Mr. Anninkora said GIBA will soon embark on a nationwide tour to receive the complaints of its members and address  them.

He thanked the outgoing executives for their hard work, and appealed to them to continue to support the Association.

The outgoing president, Mr. Akwasi Agyeman of eTV, pledged the support of the other outgoing executives to the to the Association and its new executives.

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By: Atiewin Mohammed

The post GIBA elects new executives appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The latest of these mind-boggling scenes on TV that made rounds was that of a so-called “doctor” advertising some medication, which itself is not wrong.

But this doctor appeared to insinuate that candidiasis progressed to gonorrhea and after a while developed into syphilis, hence the need for his medication.

It doesn’t end there. He proceeds to explain that the syphilis will erode one’s immune system and eventually develop into HIV.

The NMC’s attempts at tighter regulation were declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court after a lawsuit by Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA).

GIBA said its opposition was to the protect the fundamental rights of the media, as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution.

Watch the doctor in the video below

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Video: ‘Fake Doctor’ claims candidiasis develops into HIV appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the court, the regulation which requires media owners to apply for content authorisation, submit programme guide and content for approval or in default pay a fine or serve between two and five years in jail term, amounts to censorship, and is therefore unconstitutional.

[contextly_sidebar id=”jW0mRlkzCvWkWSBJFFZMHZ8XViGnva9X”]The justices further added that, the NMC was to provide guidelines and not sensor content.

The judgment follows a suit by the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA), which specifically prayed the apex court to expunge regulations 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 22 of the NMC (Content Standards) Regulations 2015 (LI 2224), insisting that it was inconsistent with the 1992 Constitution which guarantees unfettered media freedom.

We’re not in court to embarrass NMC – GIBA

The President of the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA), Akwasi Agyeman, had explained that their decision to drag the National Media Commission (NMC) to the Supreme Court over the new media law, was not an attempt to embarrass the commission.

According to him, the move was to seek interpretation of some clauses in the new law which they disagreed with.

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By: Fred Djabanor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Court strikes out NMC’s ‘media control’ regulations appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This follows a meeting between President John Mahama and Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs of UAE, Al Gaith at the Presidential Villa in Akosombo.

His Excellency Al Gaith led a delegation of investors to hold discussions with President Mahama on various investment options in the country.

The UAE government is also supporting a number of projects in Ghana including a new 350MW combined cycle power plant that will also produce 100,000 cubic meters per day of desalinated water.

The meeting also discussed port expansion with the Dubai Port Authority and bauxite mining at Nyinahin.

The UAE delegation indicated their willingness to increase their investment portfolio in Ghana.

Briefing the Press after the close door meeting, Presidential Spokesperson, Ben Dotse Marlor, confirmed the commitment of the government of the United Arab Emirates to partner Ghana to develop infrastructure.

“One key thing that emerged from the discussions between President Mahama and the Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs of the United Arab Emirates was an offer from the UAE for a support of about a 100 million US dollars from the Abu-Dhabi development fund to be used by the government of Ghana for various projects including infrastructure projects,” he  indicated.

According to him the offer came directly from the team and it’s well appreciated.

The team that accompanied the deputy Minister included officials of TAQA who presently operates a thermal generating plant in Takoradi in the Western Region.

President Mahama also received strong assurances from the government of the UAE to support TAQA to establish a 350 megawatts combined cycle power plant capable of desalinating sea water for consumption.

“A memorandum of understanding that is being signed indicates the fact that the Abu-Dhabi government is pledging to support …,”Marlor explained.

According to the Presidential spokesperson, the meeting also discussed opportunities in Agriculture, Mining, Energy and Power and many other fields that offer great investment opportunities and returns.

‘’These projects if realized have a huge potential of creating jobs and also expanding the economy,’’ he noted.

By: Richard Mensah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post UAE supports Ghana’s infrastructural dev’t with $100m appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Gyan netted for Al Ain at Al Wasl on Friday through a penalty in Dubai.

Asamoah, 28, has now grabbed 29 goals in 24 league games and 42 in all competitions. He has been instrumental in keeping Al Ain in the face for the final slot for next season’s Asian Champions League.

Al Ain are fourth with 43 points, just a point behind third-placed Al Shabab and two points behind Al Wahda in second. Only three teams qualify from the UAE for the continental club competition.

Gyan is also the leading scorer in the Asian Champions League, with eight goals in seven games, and his club are currently having one foot in the quarter final stage after beating Al Jazira in the first leg.

With the World Cup kicking off in just over a month, Gyan’s form will delight his countrymen.

By: Gary Al-Smith/Citifmonline.com

Follow @garyalsmith

The post Gyan on target again for 29th goal this league season appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan has scored 100 goals since moving to the United Arab Emirates.

His side Al Ain played Al Jazira in the first leg of the Asian Champions League (ACL) quarter final, and Gyan scored in his team’s 2-1 win.

Gyan, 28, has broken several records along the way to scoring a century of goals in 92 competitive games since leaving Sunderland in 2011.

Gyan’s stats since Al Ain move

2011/2012 – 22 goals in 18 league games (27 in all competitions)
2012/2013 – 31 goals in 22 league games (32 in all competitions)
2013/2014 – 28 goals in 25 league games (41 in all competitions so far)
Total haul- 81 goals in 65 league games (100 in all competitions)

Ghana will certainly hope Mr. 100 gets his fire going during the World Cup, where he is already Ghana’s highest scorer.

In the Asian Champions League in which he scored, Gyan is also top scorer with eight goals in seven games this season. As it stands, Gyan and his team are on course in their quest to win the competition 11 years since they last did.

Gyan, who is on 41 goals in 39 games in all competitions this season, received further good news on Wednesday morning as news came through that he had headlined nominations for the AGL International Player of the Year.

By: Gary Al-Smith/Citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @garyalsmith

The post Don’t call him Asamoah Gyan. Call him Mr 100 goals. appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.