SECTOR 3 UÊ Ì iÊÌÀ>}ÊÃÌÌÕÌÃÊvÊÕÀ>ÃÌÃÊ>`ÊVÕV>ÌÀÃÆ UÊ Ì iÊ >>Ê`ÛiÀÌÃ}ÊÃÃV>ÌÊ>`ÊÌ iÊÃÌÌÕÌiÊvÊ*ÕLVÊ,i>ÌÃÊ of Ghana; UÊ Ì iÊ >>Ê >Ì>ÊÃÃV>ÌÊvÊ/i>V iÀÃÆ UÊ Ì iÊ >Ì>Ê ÕVÊÊ7iÊ>`Ê iÛi«iÌÆ UÊ Ì iÊ/À>`iÊ1ÃÊ }ÀiÃÃÆÊ>` UÊ Ì iÊÃÃV>ÌÊvÊ*ÀÛ>ÌiÊ À>`V>ÃÌiÀÃÆÊ UÊ ÌÜÊÀi«ÀiÃiÌ>ÌÛiÃÊ>Ìi`ÊLÞÊÌ iÊ >>ÊÕÀ>ÃÌÃÊÃÃV>ÌÆ UÊ ÌÜÊ«iÀÃÃÊ>««Ìi`ÊLÞÊÌ iÊ*>À>iÌÆÊ>` UÊ Ì ÀiiÊ«iÀÃÃÊ>Ìi`ÊLÞÊ*>À>iÌ° According to the NMC Act, the functions of the Commission are: (a) to promote and ensure the freedom and independence of the media for mass communication or information; (b) to take all appropriate measures to ensure the establishment and maintenance of the highest journalistic standards in the mass media, including the investigation, mediation and settlement of complaints made against or by the press or other mass media; (c) to insulate the state-owned media from governmental control; (d) to take measures to ensure that persons responsible for state-owned media afford fair opportunities and facilities for the presentation of divergent views and dissenting opinions; (e) to appoint in consultation with the President, the chairmen and other members of the governing bodies of public corporations managing the state-owned media; (f) to make regulations by constitutional instrument for the registration of newspapers and other publications, except that the regulations shall not provide for the exercise of any direction or control over the professional functions of a person engaged in the production of newspapers or other means of mass communication; and (g) to perform such other functions as may be prescribed by law not inconsistent with the Constitution. Despite the guidelines that the NMC issues, “most of the problems we have in the media come from the independent broadcast stations, especially local language stations.” The NCA may impose sanctions on content issues based on the advice of the NMC. This arrangement has, however, never been tested. The NCA takes direction from the Minister, given various considerations such as national security, policy, and so forth. As such, the broadcast sector is not completely insulated from political interference. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER GHANA 2013 47