Sam George, the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, has revisited how the President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Dwumfour, appealed directly to President John Dramani Mahama following his decision to shut down 64 media houses.
Speaking in a video shared on X on November 9, 2026, Sam George said the GJA President approached President Mahama barely two hours after the shutdown, urging him to intervene because of concerns that the action could damage Ghana’s international reputation.
According to Sam George, the GJA president argued that President Mahama, having previously worked in the media industry, should not allow his minister to close down media organisations.
“I shut down 64 media houses. Two hours after that, the president of the GJA ran to the president, screaming blue murder, that the president is a former practitioner, and is allowing his minister to shut down media houses and is going to give us a bad impression, bad reputation,” he stated.
Sam George disclosed that President Mahama subsequently directed him to grant the affected media houses an amnesty.
Sam George, however, defended the shutdown, insisting that the affected outlets had violated their own professional code of conduct as well as licensing requirements, making regulatory action necessary.
He explained, “So media houses that had breached their own code of conduct, had breached their licensing regime, I decided to act. The GJA president went, and so two hours later, the president asked me to give an amnesty”.
“This is public record. The reason for that amnesty, I’m putting it out today, is that the GJA president went,” he added.
Sam George also criticised some journalists for allegedly opposing efforts to address challenges within the media industry.
The Minister argued that journalists and their representatives should support initiatives aimed at resolving problems in the sector rather than resist those seeking to introduce reforms.
“So if you are trying to fix the problem, and it is the same journalists in your representation that are fighting those who are trying to fix the problem, you’re fighting yourself,” he added.
Back in 2025, the National Communications Authority (NCA) suspended the licenses of over 60 media houses affected by regulatory actions, including prominent outlets such as Asaase Radio and Wontumi FM.
However, President John Dramani Mahama intervened and directed Sam George to work with the National Communications Authority (NCA) to immediately restore the broadcast licenses of media houses.
Meanwhile, Sam George has once again threatened to shut down media houses affiliated with political and religious groups.
According to Sam George, the move could form part of calls to address what he describes as an excessive number of broadcast stations in Ghana.
Sam George quizzed why Ghana, a country with a population of about 35 million people, should have nearly 700 radio stations and 120 television stations.
He described the situation as ‘pure madness’ and a concern for the media industry.
The Communication Minister, speaking during a keynote address at AVAS 2026 on Monday, November 2, 2026, stated, “If you leave me, I will shut down every political and religiously affiliated media house so that we have a clean slate in this country”.
“Explain to me why a country like Ghana, with 35 million people, should have almost 700 radio stations and 120 TV stations. It is pure madness,” he said.
Sam George further debunked arguments that the situation was simply an expression of media freedom, noting that the situation could instead lead to “media tyranny”.
“Look, it is not media freedom; it is media tyranny that we are having”.
Sam George also raised concerns about religious organisations owning broadcast stations.
He argued that existing regulations prohibit such ownership but some groups allegedly use other entities to obtain licences.
“We have a law that says religious bodies should not own broadcast houses, but we all know that they own them because they use pseudo-entities to apply to the National Communications Authority,” he said.
Watch the video below:
Sam George Reveals President Mahama Asked Him to Grant 64 Shut-Down Media Houses Amnesty Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Hon. Sam George, has recounted how President Mahama intervened after he ordered the shutdown of 64 media houses. According to the minister, the President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) appealed directly to President Mahama just two hours after the shutdown, prompting the President to ask him to grant the affected media houses amnesty. “I shut down 64 media houses. Two hours later, the President of the GJA ran to the President, screaming blue murder, and the President asked me to grant them amnesty,” Sam George recounted. 🎥 Adonten Diaries
— GHANA NATION MEDIA 🇬🇭 (@Ghana_Nation1) November 9, 2026
@ghnow_ Supporters of Kojo Danquah arrive at the NDC headquarters to file his nomination on his behalf for the Deputy National Communications Officer position. #GHNow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
@ghnow_ Supporters of Kojo Danquah arrive at the NDC headquarters to file his nomination on his behalf for the Deputy National Communications Officer position. #GHNow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
