“It is pure madness” – Sam George threatens to shut down political and religious media outlets

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.

Some netizens reacting to his remarks stated, “@samgeorgegh you are the minister now, make strict regulations, most of these stations break many codes of conduct in their space, that’s a way to reduce and clean that space, we good at saying all our problems without strict measures to fix them cos we want please ourselves”.

One X user added, “Most of them are nonsense, offering nothing educational, constructive, or progressive, just polluting the media space with meaningless content”.

A netizen added, “Oh? It’s about who owns the stations and not what they show? They’re using their stations to show those fraudulent, bring-money-to-take-money adverts is okay, but them being owned by a politician alone is? Okay”.

“Shutting down political and religious media stations will suppress freedom of the press and media and also oppose politics. That’s in even political intolerance”, one X user added.

One last X user added, “He’s seeing it as “pure madness”; we see it as an employment opportunity. If the government won’t expand its broadcasting channels to create jobs and the religious and political groups are doing that, why shut it down on the face level as a titled group? Alɛkyɛ!”.  

Additionally, a netizen added, “Look at this foolishness. We spend almost our monthly salaries on data that barely lasts two weeks, and that’s not madness? But TV stations are your problem? Sam George, you’re a complete idiot with misplaced priorities. Stop fooling and go do something that actually matters”.

“America has 33500 radio stations. They have a population 9 times that of Ghana. If you multiply 700 FM stations in Ghana by 9, you still don’t get anything near 33500. Yet they control them all. Regulate them; don’t complain. If you complain, you are telling us you just can’t do your job”, a netizen stated.

A Ghanaian demanded, “Let’s reset the entire media space. Every day, it’s the same tired routine. NDC and NPP communicators trading insults and arguing on air. Religion is another problem, with the media constantly exposing the public to fake miracles. We deserve better”.

Communications Minister Sam George has questioned why Ghana has nearly 700 radio stations and 120 TV stations, calling the situation “media tyranny." He says some religious bodies use business entities to secure broadcast licences and argues that media outlets affiliated with political or religious groups should be shut down. He also explained why an earlier plan to close 64 media houses was put on hold after the President intervened.