Radio Gold 90.5 FM is set to be back on the airwaves for the first time since it was shut down by the government in May 2019.
In a post on Facebook by Kofi Okyere Darko (KOD), the celebrated broadcaster indicated that Radio Gold is to run its full test transmission from tomorrow Wednesday 16th March 2022.
“I bet you’re wondering what’s gon happen next! Just stay tuned…,” the post read.
The closure of the radio station was deemed to be political because the station was politically aligned to the opposition, National Democratic Congress (NDC).
In explaining its decision to shut down Radio Gold, the NCA said that the radio station was closed because it did not have the authorisation to operate and was in line with Regulations 65 (1) of the Electronic Communications Regulations, 2011, L. I. 1991, which states that “a person shall not use a radio frequency without authorisation from the Authority.”
The NCA, however, granted Radio Gold the license to operate after it applied for a renewal of its expired FM Radio broadcasting authorisation.
“The Governing Board of the National Communications Authority (NCA), at a Board meeting held on 11th October 2021, approved the grant of a total of One Hundred and Thirty-Three (133) FM radio broadcasting authorizations which include new applications from entities whose FM radio stations were closed down after the 2017 FM Audit as well as existing stations which applied for renewal of their expired FM Radio broadcasting authorizations,” a statement released by the NCA on October 12, 2021 said.
Brief History about Radio Gold
Radio Gold is a private radio station that airs on the frequency 90.5. The station was founded in 1995, and started airing a year later – first in English, then with a programme in dual language of English and Akan. The station has a lineup of various programs from entertainment to politics, fashion, news and current affairs.
GeoPoll’s Media Measurement for audience ranking (Quarter 1, 2017) places Radio Gold in the Top Ten nationwide, with an audience share of 1.93%. In a survey by Goodman AMC, Radio Gold was mentioned as a media news source that Ghanaians trusted to provide first-hand and reliable information in the 2016 presidential election. Its program Election Forensics would hold a trust percentage of 9% and ranked four among radio programs.
Radio Gold was an early entrant into the Ghanaian media market segment. It has been a part of the liberation of the airwaves in the early 90ies. Since its inception, it is perceived to be aligned with the National Democratic Congress.
The station is owned by the Network Broadcasting Group whose founder is Kwesi Sainti Baffoe-Bonnie. The Network Broadcasting Group has Aida Brako, Edward Addo, Joseph Boateng and Kwame Addo as its directors. Edward Addo, Joseph Boateng and Kwame Addo are the shareholders of the company, based on official Registrar General Department’s documents. In addition to Radio Gold, Network Broadcasting Group also operates Montie FM and TV Gold.
