CURRENTLY, there is a bad blood between the Ministry of Communications and the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA).
THE ongoing rumpus between these two bodies follow an accusation levelled against the Communications Ministry by the GIBA to the effect that the former has created an uneven playing field within Ghana’s digital terrestrial space.
THAT claim by GIBA has given an undue advantage to Chinese company StarTimes, at the detriment of local broadcasters. In the wake of the ensuing rumpus, the Minister of Communications, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has come out to debunk GIBA’s allegation and cleared the air on the matter.
A statement signed by the sector minister over the weekend made it clear that Ghana’s Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) platform would be managed as a commercial entity incorporated as the Central Digital Transmission Company Limited (CDTCL) and governed by a board with representatives from GBC, GIBA and other industry and content producers.
THE communications ministry’s statement goes on to state that the country’s digital space has not been handed over to StarTimes as that matter has gained currency over the last few days.
IT is refreshing that the communications ministry has cleared the air on the matter. This, Today believes, should set minds at ease!
HOWEVER, the paper wants to add its voice to the call by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), urging the communications ministry to be open in its rolling out of the country’s digital migration programme.
ACCORDING to the Executive Director of the MFWA, Suleiman Braimah, the ministry’s engagement with relevant players in the communications space has not been encouraging.
HE raised the issue of an unequal playing field by picking on the central government for granting tax incentives to StarTimes.
“WE have a situation where a tax waiver is granted to a company that is apparently a competitor operating in the country’s media space. They operate Max TV which is a cable TV,” he said.
FROM the above, we on Today think that it will not be right if, indeed, the central government is giving undue advantage to a competitor and more especially when such a competitor is a foreigner and is competing with our local entities.
IN our view we think that the same package and even more should be extended to Ghanaians who are players in the digital space. For what is good for the goose is equally good for the gander!
Source: Today
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
I respect IMANI Ghana for the work and researches it does, especially their delving into Government policies and making quite often constructive inputs. But of late, I'm very much disappointed by Mr. Cudjoe the way he criticises Ministry of communication about some projects and contracts. I find it sometimes very difficult to appreciate where he is coming from, which seems not IMANI-like. Then, Mr. Cudjoe tends to criticise or make allegations by using understatements, which to me only have rhetoric effects which do not objectify the substance and in most cases lightly touched on it, to create unfair space for speculation and character defamation. I do not want to cite examples from his piece or stance. But if you go through the piece and juxtapose it with what the Minister is saying carefully, you might appreciate where I want to catch your attention.
see how you dey taya bcs of noko fio nti madam chines kun fu ursula.