Ghana’s Radio & TV Industry Is Being Crushed—24-Hour Economy Intervention Needed Now!!

Ghana’s Radio & TV Industry Is Being Crushed—24-Hour Economy Intervention Needed Now!!

Ghana’s broadcast industry is under siege, and unless urgent, deliberate policy action is taken, the country risks witnessing the gradual collapse of one of its most critical democratic institutions.

Radio and television stations across the country are grappling with a perfect storm: rising energy costs, erratic power supply, shrinking advertising revenues, and mounting regulatory pressures.

Together, these forces are not just straining the industry—they are breaking it.

At the center of this crisis is the decision by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to replace postpaid electricity meters with prepaid systems. For an industry that operates 24/7, this shift has fundamentally disrupted financial planning and cash flow management.

Unlike the postpaid regime, which allowed stations to operate and settle bills at the end of the month based on revenue cycles, the prepaid system demands upfront payments at a time when income streams are increasingly unpredictable.

This challenge is compounded by the ongoing erratic power supply across the country, often described as “routine maintenance.” In reality, many stations are now forced to depend heavily on generators, leading to soaring fuel costs.

The combined burden of prepaid electricity and generator usage has dramatically increased operational expenses, pushing many stations beyond their financial limits.

Yet, energy costs are only part of the problem.

Ghana’s media landscape has expanded rapidly, with over 700 radio stations and more than 200 television stations competing for the same limited advertising budgets.

At the same time, corporate institutions are shifting their focus toward digital and social media platforms, significantly reducing their spending on traditional media.

The result is a sharp decline in revenue across the industry.

Even more concerning is the rising cost of regulatory compliance. Institutions such as the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the National Communications Authority (NCA) have significantly increased their fees and charges in recent times—reportedly by over 300 percent.

This is happening even as many stations are already burdened with years of unpaid statutory obligations, creating a vicious cycle of debt and operational distress.

The human cost of this crisis cannot be ignored. Thousands of media professionals depend on this industry for their livelihoods, yet many are going months without pay.

In some cases, salaries have fallen as low as GHS 500 per month. Staff morale is deteriorating, resignations are increasing, and layoffs are looming.

Recent developments paint a worrying picture. The Asaase Media Network has scaled down operations in several regions, while the Kingdom Media Group has shut down most of its stations nationwide.

These are not isolated incidents—they are warning signs of a broader industry collapse.

Public criticism is often directed at station owners, many of whom are perceived to be financially strong. However, this perception overlooks a critical reality: most stations are simply not generating enough revenue to meet their operational costs, let alone deliver returns to shareholders.

Beyond the economic implications, the stakes are far higher. Radio remains one of the most accessible and influential platforms for information dissemination in Ghana, particularly in rural communities.

Its decline would weaken public discourse, reduce accountability, and ultimately erode democratic governance.

This is why institutions such as the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA), and the National Media Commission (NMC) must step in urgently to advocate for the survival of the industry.

Government intervention is no longer optional—it is necessary. There is a clear case for targeted tax reliefs, a review of the prepaid metering policy for media houses, and the introduction of special energy tariffs for broadcasters.

Additionally, integrating media houses into Ghana’s 24-hour economy framework could provide much-needed incentives, given that these institutions already operate around the clock.

If decisive action is not taken, the consequences will be severe: widespread job losses, reduced media plurality, and a weakened democratic system.

Ghana cannot afford to let its media industry collapse under the weight of policy and economic pressures. The time to act is now.

— Lawrence Kojo Addo Cheremeh

Managing Director, Coastal 94.9 FM, Mankessim and Managing Editor, theghanavoice.com 

Media and Communications Practitioner with over 20 years’ experience in Ghana’s broadcast industry