GIBA drags NMC to Supreme Court on its  new media  content law


The Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association has petitioned the Supreme Court to strike out a new law which requires media owners to seek content approval from the National Media Commission (NMC) before publication. 

GIBA says some of the regulations in the new law are  inconsistent with the 1992 Constitution which guarantees unfettered media freedom.  

The regulations in contention basically require media owners to apply for content authorization and submit program guide 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.  

Dissatisfied with the new regulations and what they say is a threat to press freedom, GIBA caused its lawyer, Kwame Boateng, to file a writ to invoke the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.
 
Joined in the suit as first defendant  is the  Attorney General.According to GIBA, the regulations amount to censorship of the media and contravene articles 162(1) and (2) of the 1992 Constitution and is, therefore void.


GBC