The Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) has on behalf of its members taken the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation and KNet Ghana Limited to court.
President of GIBA, Cecil Sunkwa-Mills in a statement alleged the Ministry has unilaterally mandated KNet to provide “Contribution Link Services” and charge for same.
She intimates that the Network Solutions company also have the authority to disconnect broadcasters from the National Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) Transmissions platform on the account of nonpayment of the fees.
However, GIBA argues this is a breach of the laws governing the sector since the company are operating without any Parliamentary approval or any legal basis.
“The MoCD establishing and charging arbitrary fees to be paid into a CENTRAL DIGITAL TRANSMISSION COMPANY LTD as DTT channel hosting fees by broadcasters, without the approval of the fees from Parliament” she emphasized.
In view of this, the association is praying the court to declare the agreement as null and void.
Full statement below:
GIBA Goes to Court against decisions of the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation pertaining to operations of the only National DTT Transmissions Platform in Ghana
The Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) has on behalf of its members taken the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation (MoCD) and KNet Ghana Limited to court for:
- The MoCD mandating KNet Ghana Ltd to unilaterally provide what they refer to as “Contribution link services” and charge fees they refer to as “Contribution Links Fees” to itself, with the added authority of disconnecting broadcasters from the National DTT Transmissions platform on account of nonpayment of the fees, without any legal basis or Parliamentary approval.
- The MoCD establishing and charging arbitrary fees to be paid into a CENTRAL DIGITAL TRANSMISSION COMPANY LTD as DTT channel hosting fees by broadcasters, without the approval of the fees from Parliament.
Signed:
Cecil Sunkwa-Mills
President
GIBA
