Ghana's TV regulator, the National Media Commission (NMC) has ordered three of the country's public TV channels to immediately stop broadcasting pornography, saying "actual sexual intercourse between humans should at no time be transmitted" with no exceptions.
The TV channels, XYZ TV, Thunder TV and Ice TV told the regulator they're broadcasting pornography because other TV channels that they compete with, are also doing it.
While the NMC can't fine the TV channels over showing pornography since Ghana's regulations doesn't currently make allowance for that, the NMC said it can order the stations to stop.
After complaints, the NMC said the channels' broadcasts didn't meet the NMC's broadcasting standards.
"The stations apologised and committed themselves to ensuring that there would be no more pornography on their stations," said Nana Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng, NMC chairperson in a statement.
"They however, drew the attention of the Commission to other radio and television stations which they considered to be carrying similarly offensive content."
One of the channels, Ice TV, that said it will abide by the directive, has reportedly now threatened the NMC with court action over the decision, saying they want Ghana's courts to give clarification on whether the regulator has the right to stop it from airing pornography on Ghana's free-to-air TV airwaves.
Samuel Owusu Asare, Ice TV general manager, told Ghana's radio station Citi 97.3 fm that "we will come back to seek more clarification from the court because you cannot tell us to stop showing pornographic materials and later on we'll see other TV telecasting such materials. We wouldn’t take that kindly".
