SECTOR 3 3.2 Broadcasting is regulated by an independent body that is adequately protected by law against interference and whose board is not dominated by any particular political party and is appointed – in an open way – involving civil society and not dominated by any particular political party. Ghana does not have broadcasting legislation, but the NCA and NMC oversee various facets of the broadcasting industry; the NCA focuses on technical oversight, while the NMC focuses on content. The NCA, established in terms of the National Communications Authority (NCA) Act of 2008, is tasked with “licensing and regulating communications activities and services in the country.” Amongst the many functions listed in Clause 3 of the Act, the NCA has a mandate to: a. c. d. e. j. m. r. x. establish and monitor the implementation of national communications standards and ensure compliance accordingly; grant communication licenses; regulate and monitor licensees, holders of frequency authorisations in consultation with the NMC where appropriate; ensure fair competition amongst licensees, operators of communications networks and service providers of public communications; establish a frequency plan and monitor any frequency allocated to the communications industry; establish quality of service indicators and reporting requirements for operators and service providers; issue guidelines and standards from time to time; (i) and to advise the Minister on matters related to the communications industry within the country and globally. The legal status of the NCA is that of a corporate entity, but it does not operate independently. In line with Section 14 (1) of its Act: “The Minister may give written directives to the Board on matters of policy and the Board shall comply.” According to the Act, the governing body of the Authority is a Board consisting of the following people, who are appointed by the president: a. b. c. the chairperson; the Director-General appointed under Section 16; one representative of the AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER GHANA 2017 47