Radio stations across the Upper West Region and other parts of Ghana have been given a six-month deadline to install three-stage cavity filters or risk sanctions, including being taken off air, as regulators intensify efforts to protect aviation communication and navigation systems from harmful radio frequency interference.
The directive was announced during a capacity-building workshop on aviation safety and FM broadcasting, where officials from the National Communications Authority (NCA) and the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA)stressed the need for broadcasters to strictly comply with technical regulations to safeguard lives.
Speaking at the workshop, Senior Manager at the NCA, Ransford Odoom, emphasized that the installation of cavity filters is a critical safety requirement and not merely a regulatory obligation.
He explained that cavity attenuation has negligible impact on the quality of radio transmission and advised radio station owners to engage competent broadcast engineers for technical guidance rather than compromising on safety.
“We want to apply the rules strictly because we cannot play with lives,” Mr. Odoom said. “Within the six months, if any radio station is found causing interference to aviation installations, that station will first be taken off air. Subsequently, it may only be allowed to operate at minimal transmission power.”
He, however, noted that no incidents of aviation interference have so far been recorded in Wa and its surrounding communities, attributing the situation to the relatively smaller number of radio stations operating in the area and lower volumes of air traffic.
Also addressing participants, Engineer Daniel Doe of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) urged broadcasters to prioritize quality over transmitter power.
“You don’t necessarily need a 1-kilowatt or 2-kilowatt transmitter to achieve effective coverage,” he said. “What is important is engaging competent professionals, selecting high-altitude transmission sites, and using quality antennas and transmission cables.”
According to him, these technical considerations significantly improve signal coverage while minimizing interference with aviation communication systems.
Earlier, Senior Manager at the NCA in Accra, Gabriel Kwofie, delivered a presentation highlighting the growing challenge of interference from FM transmission systems to aviation installations.
He disclosed that FM broadcasting signals in Ghana are increasingly disrupting critical aeronautical navigation systems, with the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority recording more than four complaints related to such interference.
Mr. Kwofie further revealed that regulatory assessments have identified 10 FM stations in Wa and its environs operating without the required cavity filters, constituting a breach of broadcasting regulations.
He explained that one of the aviation systems vulnerable to interference is the Ground-Based Augmentation System (GBAS), which supports aircraft navigation and landing operations.
The presentation outlined two major categories of interference associated with FM broadcasting.
Type A interference occurs when unwanted emissions from one or more FM broadcasting transmitters spill into the aeronautical frequency band.
Type B interference, on the other hand, is generated within the aeronautical band as a result of FM transmissions operating outside the aviation frequency range.
Mr. Kwofie also observed that many radio stations transmit signals beyond their authorized coverage areas, increasing the likelihood of interference with aviation equipment.
Participants were reminded that the primary objective of the workshop was to enhance compliance with broadcasting standards, strengthen collaboration between regulators and broadcasters, and ultimately protect aviation safety and human lives.
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