NMC prays court rule on new regulations before election campaigns start

The National Media Commission has responded to the Supreme Court’s injunction on the implementation of the Content Standards Regulations (LI2224) and expressed the hope that the court will be able to give its judgment on the substantive matter before commencement of this year’s election campaigns.

In a statement signed and issued in Accra by its Chairman, Mr Kwasi Gyan Apenteng, the commission said it will abide by the court’s ruling.

However, it assured the public that it was determined to uphold its constitutional mandate of ensuring a free and vibrant media that functions within the law and puts the national interest above any other consideration.

The NMC recently introduced the Content Standards Regulations, which came into force on December 9, 2015 and was expected to have been implemented three months from the date of entry into force. 

GIBA filed an application to restrain the NMC from enforcing certain provisions of the new law contending that, its members were likely to be prosecuted and suffer imprisonment.

The regulations in contention require media owners to apply for content authorisation, submit programme guide and content for approval and go by a set of rules stipulated by the NMC or in default pay a fine or serve between two and five years in jail. 

In a unanimous decision on Thursday, the Supreme Court said the injunction would remain in place until the determination of the suit filed by GIBA against the said law.

In accordance with the Supreme Court ruling, the NMC is obliged to suspend the implementation until the final determination of the matter. 

Follow @enochfrimpong Writer's email: enoch.frimpong@graphic.com.gh