According to him, if the NMC, which has constitutional oversight over GBC had taken sides and stated how the TV license fees should be implemented, the Director-General would not have been asked to proceed on leave with immediate effect.

The governing board of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation [GBC], has asked the Director-General of the Corporation, Dr. Akuffo Annof-Ntow to proceed on leave.

The directive according to the Board Chairman of GBC, Reverend Professor Emmanuel Addo-Obeng, was agreed upon on Monday, January 15, 2018, following his handling of the TV license issues.

Speaking on Eyewitness News  on Tuesday, Sulemana Braimah said he was surprised when he heard the Director-General had been relieved of his position by the Board, saying that to the best of his knowledge, the appointing authority which the NMC,  is responsible for such actions.

“I was particularly surprised when I heard the news about the DG being asked to proceed on a leave by the board, because the first question I asked myself is that, unlike other institutions where you have the board being the appointing authority, in this particular instance, it is NMC that is the appointing authority, so to what extent can we have the NMC appointing and the board of the corporation which in itself was constituted by the NMC being the one taking the decision to relieve the DG of his post, it is actually a convoluted matter and so far I am yet to hear the NMC position,” he said.

Concerns over the TV license regime followed the Chief Justice’s setting up of special TV license courts across the country to prosecute people who refuse to pay the mandatory TV license fees in line with the TV licensing Act.

Domestic TV users are to pay between GHc36 and GHc60 for one or more TV sets in a household, while TV set repairers and sales outlets are to pay an annual sum of between GHc60 to GHc240.

Following the setting up of the special court, it was expected that defaulting TV owners or operators will be prosecuted per Section 1(a) of the TV licensing Act 1966 (NLCD 89) with defaulters facing a fine or a prison term not exceeding one year.

But a statement from the Board stopped the prosecution even before they occurred.

The board also urged the National Media Commission (NMC)  to explore a more sustainable funding module for the GBC.

During the back and forth, the GBC Director angered the public further when he suggested that persons who consumed TV content via smart phones were also going to pay the license fees.

Several pressure groups and civil society organisations kicked against the TV license regime, particularly the threat to use the court to ensure compliance.

In the midst of the arguments however, some individuals thronged GBC Revenue collection points to pay the fees.

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By: Farida Yusif/citifmonlinefm.com/Ghana

The post MWFA questions GBC Board’s action against Director-General appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Responding to the outcry and criticism that met the renewed efforts of the State Broadcaster to ensure compliance with the law, the GBC Board assured the public that no prosecutions will occur.

[contextly_sidebar id=”w0WokcW6YIOEF59kSi6brE4kWJ1UG4lz”]Concerns over the TV license regime followed the Chief Justice’s setting up of special TV license courts across the country to prosecute people who refuse to pay the mandatory TV license fees in line with the TV licensing Act.

Domestic TV users are to pay between GHc36 and GHc60 for one or more TV sets in a household, while TV set repairers and sales outlets are to pay an annual sum of between GHc60 to GHc240.

Following the setting up of the special court, it was expected that defaulting TV owners or operators will be prosecuted per Section 1(a) of the TV licensing Act 1966 (NLCD 89) with defaulters facing a fine or a prison term not exceeding one year.

But a statement from the Board said, “following an evaluation of the situation has instructed the management of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) not to pursue any activity or set of processes, leading to the prosecution of any individual for the non-payment of the Television license fee.”

“The Governing Board is assuring the general public not to entertain any fear for any such possible prosecutions,” the statement added.

The board also urged the National Media Commission (NMC)  to explore a more sustainable funding module for the GBC.

“With Respect to the future of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, the Board recommends that the National Media Commission (NMC) drives the process of engaging critical stakeholders to resolve the status of GBC, and find a more enduring funding module, that would enable it to discharge its constitutional mandate.”

–

By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post GBC Board halts prosecution over TV license fees appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

In a statement, the GJA said some of the arguments on the matter have been made without sound logic.

[contextly_sidebar id=”RSFiGvwQejkyItXf1ArV37cTezqEYCdb”]”The GJA is deeply concerned that some of the arguments advanced for or against the payment of TV License fee are founded on emotional effusions, rather than sound legal and empirical reasoning. Such approach and analysis will not enrich the debate for the betterment of the country.”

Concerns over the TV license regime followed the Chief Justice’s setting up of special TV license courts across the country to prosecute people who refuse to pay the mandatory TV license fees in line with the TV licensing Act.

Domestic TV users are to pay between GHc36 and GHc60 for one or more TV sets in a household, while TV set repairers and sales outlets are to pay an annual sum of between GHc60 to GHc240.

GBC still needs revenue

Despite the fact the TV License regime has been described as obsolete, the GJA also intimated that the GBC still needed to survive regardless, hence the need for the revenue.

“We appreciate the fact that the law on TV license fee, which was enacted 52 years ago at a time GBC enjoyed monopoly, may have been overtaken by technology and media pluralism, for which reason it may have to be amended. But we also believe that technological advancement and liberalisation of the broadcast industry do not by their sheer force, strip GBC of its character as a public broadcaster that requires financial oxygen such as TV license fee to survive,” the statement said.

While making a case for the GBC, the GJA also stressed the need for the national broadcaster to address issues having to do with quality content and programming.

“Although the law on TV License fee is not essentially about content, the need for quality public service content cannot be trivialized. We therefore urge the national broadcaster to endeavor to improve its content and the quality of its service,” the statement added.

Find the full statement below

GJA CALLS FOR DISPASSIONATE DEBATE ON PAYMENT OF TV LICENSE FEE

The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has been following with keen interest the current debate on the payment of TV License fee to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC). The debate, which began a few years ago, has been rekindled by the recent decision of the Chief Justice to designate special courts in the 10 regions of the country for the prosecution of defaulters of the law.

The payment of TV license fee in Ghana was established in 1966 by the Television Licensing Act, 1966 (NLCD 89). Since then, there have been many amendments to the law and regulations enacted for its implementation.

The GJA is deeply concerned that some of the arguments advanced for or against the payment of TV License fee are founded on emotional effusions, rather than sound legal and empirical reasoning. Such approach and analysis will not enrich the debate for the betterment of the country. It is, therefore, important for all to situate the issues of TV license fee in their proper contexts.

We appreciate the fact that the law on TV license fee, which was enacted 52 years ago at a time GBC enjoyed monopoly, may have been overtaken by technology and media pluralism, for which reason it may have to be amended. But we also believe that technological advancement and liberalisation of the broadcast industry do not by their sheer force, strip GBC of its character as a public broadcaster that requires financial oxygen such as TV license fee to survive.

Without a doubt, GBC has undertaken and continues to undertake good public service programmes in fulfillment of its mandate. Examples are the live telecast of the Supreme Court Election Petition hearings in 2013 and the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee sittings. Despite its shortcomings, GBC has the widest reach of all broadcast media in the country, serving the remotest parts.

The 1992 Constitution of Ghana, specifically Articles 55(11), (12) and 163, imposes some critical responsibilities on the state-owned media, including the GBC. In view of the need to discharge such overwhelming constitutional obligations (regardless of the current high density of media pluralism), and considering the precarious financial disposition of GBC, it will be proper to embrace the payment of TV license fee for the survival of the national broadcaster.

While making a case for the GBC, the GJA also appreciates the need for the national broadcaster to address critical concerns of the public regarding quality content and programming. Although the law on TV License fee is not essentially about content, the need for quality public service content cannot be trivialised. We therefore urge the national broadcaster to endeavour to improve its content and the quality of its service in order to acquire the social license that would encourage the payment of TV license fee.

Globally, there are many TV license regimes from which Ghana can take a cue to enrich the current debate. The US, UK, Japan, France, Germany, and Italy offer a variety of examples of funding mixes for public service broadcasting.

As a nation we, therefore, need to be very dispassionate in the current debate, deepen public education, stop the partisan twists and help establish a suitable funding mechanism which will sustain the GBC and financially empower it to serve the public interest better.

TO ALL MEDIA HOUSES

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post GJA urges dispassionate discourse on TV license appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

In a tweet, the ‘Nyedzilo’ hitmaker asks GTV to close down if they cannot stand the competition from private television stations.

“If national TV cant face the growing competition on the television or in the media industry please close down..,” he tweeted.

He also describes the TV Licence Fees as rip-off.

“Don’t siphon money from us in the name of TV license.. Instead of spear heading the payment of royalties, u want to rip us off.. Such a shame,” he added.

The TV Licence Fees established by the Television Licensing Act – 1966 (NLCD 89) were re-introduced in 2015 to charge fees from individuals and groups that own television sets.

The licence fee has been put into three categories. The first category is the domestic use which charges GH¢36 per television set and GH¢60 for two or more TV sets in the same house.

TV set repairers and outlets shall pay GH¢60, while TV dealers pay GH¢120.

The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (including GTV) which has been mandated to do the collection of the fees will take 72% of the revenue.

Ghana Independent Broadcasting Association (GIBA) gets 15%, National Media Commission (NMC) – 4%, Media Development Fund – 4%, the Management of TV Licence Fee (GBC) gets 3% and Films Fund also takes 2% of the revenue.

The debate on the payment of the fees got re-ignited when news broke few days ago that Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo had established 11 special TV Licence Courts across the regions to try defaulters of the license fees.

The courts, which will sit in the 10 regional capitals plus Tema on Thursdays, will be presided over by 11 designated circuit court judges.

The time for the Court sitting is 8:30 am to 4:00 pm.

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By: Kwame Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Close down if you can’t stand competition – Edem to GTV appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

OccupyGhana in a statement said the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), must focus on introducing new laws that take modern trends into consideration.

[contextly_sidebar id=”xizS8Dm8wuAHTg8IcCWUFP9g3rGrOTO0″]”What is required is not a forcible re-implementation of it, but a root-and-stem review that repeals the existing law and regime, and, if necessary, introduce a new statute and regime that takes the current realities in broadcasting into account,” the group stated.

Ghana’s TV licensing Act 1966 (NLCD 89)  defines a television receiving set as “an apparatus constructed solely for the reception of pictures (with or without sound) transmitted by radio,” of which owners are to pay the license fee.

But in OccupyGhana’s view, the law “rules out the vast majority of apparatuses (Smart TVs, phones, pads, tablets, etc.) that are currently in use, and which are manufactured to receive and process more than just pictures.”

“The reality is that a strict application of a law that is based on 1966 technology, to 2017 apparatuses would leave the licensing authority with precious little or almost nothing to enforce the license against.”

Occupy Ghana, in the statement, also said there was “no constitutional or statutory basis” for the GBC to be retaining the revenue collected, “and then determining how to use it, outside laws passed and appropriations made by Parliament.”

The GBC retains 72 percent of the fees collected, and the corporation’s former Director, William Ampem Darko, argued the state broadcaster could shut down without the fees due to its financial challenges.

The group further argued that because of the proliferation of media organizations, GBC was not the only source of public information “for it to warrant an automatic right to TV Licence Fees and to be able to produce and broadcast public information.”

Others like a law Lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) Faculty of Law, Clement Akapame, have suggested that agencies like Ghana Standards Authority or the Ghana Revenue Authority should take charge of the collection of TV license fees instead of the GBC.

A pro-NPP pressure group, the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG), also kicked against attempts to enforce the TV license regime and said it would not allow Ghanaians to be bullied into paying the fee especially for those who consume TV on phones.

AFAG also contended that the State was criminalizing the citizenry over a system that is being abandoned all over the world.

Concerns over the TV license regime followed the Chief Justice’s setting up of the special TV license courts handle people who refuse to pay the mandatory TV license fees in line with the TV licensing Act.

Domestic TV users are to pay between GHc36 and GHc60 for one or more TV sets in a household, while TV set repairers and sales outlets are to pay an annual sum of between GHc60 to GHc240.

Find here the full OccupyGhana statement

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Scrap and replace ‘obsolete’ TV license law – OccupyGhana appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Officials have attributed the development to the to setting up a special TV License Court to deal with offenders, as well as discussions on the matter.

[contextly_sidebar id=”4HKCPjTnOsyxezeA2xPMr6mGX9FPA17g”]Residents from some parts of the Ashanti Region trooped to the Kumasi GBC Revenue Office either to register or pay for the TV License fees when Citi News visited the facility on Wednesday, January 03, 2018.

Officers were also seen assisting persons who had gone to pay the fee.

82-year old Daniel Bryan Kwadwo Bomfo, a retired Senior High Court Registrar who joined the long queue paid an amount of Ghc 36 as a license fee for his one Television set for the period of one year.

As someone who has worked in the court before, Mr. Bomfo said he never wanted to fall foul of the law.

“As a senior High Court Registrar, I don’t want to be to be sent to my own court, to stand before my own judge to be prosecuted. It will be a disgrace to me, so that is why I have come to pay my TV license fee”.

He called on Ghanaians to pay the fees to enable the state broadcaster generate enough revenue to be able to improve its programming and content.

Several other people had joined the queue to go through the process for fear of being prosecuted.

Another man who spoke to Citi News said “I heard it on the radio that the Chief Justice is likely to prosecute those who violate the law. So that is why I have come to pay because no one wants to go to jail”.

Some residents on the streets of Kumasi held opposing views on the payment of the fees.

They questioned the decision to give a chunk of the TV license fee to the state broadcaster since it has done little to satisfy the citizens.

A finance staff at the Revenue office, Anthony Kabah, disclosed that payment of the fee has been encouraging after an announcement to set up special courts to deal with offenders.

He indicated that the concept of the TV license was not meant to punish the people, but it was their civic right to pay taxes to the nation.

Mr. Kabah stressed that the law clearly states the license is collected because of ownership and not content. He thus appealed to the general public to partner the GBC towards nation building.

The Chief Justice has appointed a Circuit Court two judge, Her Honor Patricia Amponsah to head the special TV license court in the Ashanti Region.

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By: Hafiz Tijani/Citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Kumasi residents queue to pay TV license fees appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Pro-NPP Pressure group, Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG), has described as “needless” the decision by the Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo, to set up special courts to prosecute persons who refuse to pay the mandatory TV license.

According to the group, it was surprising that Ghana had embraced the move to fine or jail persons who default in the payment of the fees when most countries were gradually moving towards abolishing the fees.

In a release copied to citifmonline.com, AFAG said, “Ghanaians will not be bullied into paying this fee” adding that AFAG will resist any attempt to surcharge smartphone users with TV license fees.”

It said it remained resolute in its position that the demand for TV license from Ghanaians was wrong and must not be pursued by the government.

“AFAG is totally opposed to a TV license regime from an obsolete Television licensing ACT 1966 (NLCD)” the statement noted.

New Patriotic Party member and former Danquah Institute Director, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko has also kicked against the use of courts to ensure payment of the fees, although he approves of the need to pay the fees.

Read the full statement below:

Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) has learnt with mirth a move by the Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo to set up a special TV License Court to deal with people who refuse to pay the mandatory TV license.

In an era where countries across the world are either abolishing the TV license fees in countries like Finland and Iceland, or reducing it considerably (Poland, Germany) because of a high evasion rate.

Others such as China, Uganda, Canada, India, Australia, USA, Brazil and Russia are countries with no TV license fees. it is interesting to know that Ghana would rather criminalize her citizens over a system that is being abandoned all over the world.

The UK model, which the Ghanaian system is modelled after, is completely different.

This is because, unlike the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation which generates income from commercial activities like advertisements and announcements and also receives yearly subvention from the government, the local public broadcaster in the UK doesn’t have advertising or subscription as part of its funding mix.

AFAG’s position on the compulsory TV license remains unchanged.

We continue to maintain that Ghanaians will not be bullied into paying this fee.

The world is at a stage where the speed of broadband is going up, and ownership of devices connected to the internet has increased, with people at home possibly watching live TV on devices other than the TV, would they also be billed with a license fee? we hope not.

In the unlikely event, any attempt to charge users on mobile phone for using their devices to watch TV will also be resisted.

This TV license policy has been on the drawing board since 3 years ago.

AFAG opposed attempts to introduce it in 2015. We will oppose it on any day and indeed not now.

It is expected that revenue will be shared in percentage terms among Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), 72%, Ghana Independent Broadcasting Association (GIBA), 15%, National Media Commission (NMC), 4%, Media Development Fund, 4%, Films Fund, 2% and Management of TV Licence Fee (GBC), 3%.

Obviously, the state broadcaster is the target.

AFAG however proposed that, the ministry of information holds a stakeholder forum involving Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), National Media Commission (NMC), the Independent broadcasters association including CSOs and the ministry of finance to draw a road-map on how to charge the consolidated fund for media development.

This fund may be applied to sponsor or support media (television/radio/print/electronic) houses whose specific program promotes Ghanaian values or target minority groups development. It’s a matter of priority!

Be it as it may, we expect the government to explore ways of resourcing the state broadcaster either wholly by the state as stated earlier or through all forms of public-private partnerships as we move GBC to a very independent status.

The government may also consider a private management of GBC.

GBC is endowed with land mass, infrastructure, human resources, logistics and wide coverage of its network. Why is GBC struggling financially? Mr. President if the daily graphic among its competitors remains autonomous and self-funding, then GBC can copy same in the midst of competition.

Otherwise, we blame its poor state on management and the lack of clarity for resource allocation from the state or through an appropriate funding mix involving the private sector.

AFAG is totally opposed to a TV license regime from an obsolete Television licensing ACT 1966 (NLCD).

How much is the TV license fee?

The post AFAG kicks against compulsory TV license fees appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Wednesday, lawyer Oppong said “when a law made in 1966 is no more in tune with modern technology, let the appropriate authority repeal it.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”vHaK93N39j1ebwQ2UZQhXxJaAdSs3gCm”]The TV licensing Act 1966 (NLCD 89) mandates the collection of license fees from persons or households that own television sets, but Director General of the GBC, Dr. Annor-Ntow, told Citi News in an interview that the license is to cover content and not ownership of TV sets.

Dr. Annor Ntow had also noted that persons who watch TV on their smartphones will also be charged because the law borders on content.

But lawyer Oppong is of the view that this will be illegal per the current standing of the law.

“It is his [Dr. Akuffo Annor-Ntow’s] construction of the law. I’m saying that my construction of the law is that, it doesn’t include anything  either than what we know to be TV. My understanding is that a TV is a TV. The description given through the law doesn’t derogate from our understanding of what is television now.”

Lawyer Oppong said “we should separate what we watch from the TV from a mobile phone because a mobile phone is a mobile phone.”

CJ sets up special court to prosecute TV licence defaulters

Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo has set up a special TV Licence Court to deal with people who refuse to pay the mandatory TV licence fees.

The courts, numbering 11, are located across all the ten regions of the country, and are to sit every Thursday with effect from 4th January 2018.

The courts will sit from 8:30am to 4:00pm on the said day.

Police to help enforce TV license payment – GBC

The  GBC Director-General had earlier said the Police Service will help in the pursuit of persons who refuse to pay their TV licence fees.

Dr. Annof-Ntow said the police involvement is to help forestall further challenges with the collection of the fees.

“We made a formal appeal not only to the court, but also to the IGP because we anticipated that we were going to hit a snag and some people will deliberately refuse to pay. So from where we sit, I’m delighted at the fact that the Chief Justice has granted our request. What it means therefore is that, this is an encouragement for everybody to go and pay the television licence.”

Opposition to payments

Meanwhile, some Ghanaians have kicked against the payments accusing GBC of not providing compelling content to motivate them to pay the fees.

–

By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post ‘Archaic’ TV license law can be repealed if necessary – Lawyer appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Mr. Ampem Darko said GBC’s problems are primarily financial, hence the need for the fees.

[contextly_sidebar id=”5YrshN9agRoIJJhqLPlsPoSbgA4tzdhZ”]His comments follow the setting up of special courts by the Chief Justice to prosecute offenders of the TV licensing law.

Speaking to Citi News, Mr. Ampem Darko said the licensing regime will help the cooperation effectively run its operations, given the huge debts owed the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

“I will say that they were not paying their TV license so where were they expecting GBC to get the resources to provide them the content they want to see? In fact, if electricity cooperation was being very strict, there would not have been any GBC transmission in this country as at now because they owe them so much. As soon as they choose to demand their pound of flesh, GBC would have to close down.”

Appoint effective board directors 

Proffering suggestions for the effective running of the Cooperation, Mr. Ampem Darko suggested that “we Ghanaians should look for good people to be the board of directors of GBC to see to it that the right thing is done by management. The National Media Commission must play its role, then GBC must give us the content, but for now, they do not have the resources.”

CJ sets up special court to prosecute TV licence defaulters

Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo, set up a special TV Licence Court to deal with people who refuse to pay the mandatory TV licence fees.

The courts, numbering 11, are located across all the ten regions of the country, and are to sit every Thursday with effect from 4th January 2018.

The courts will sit from 8:30am to 4:00pm on the said day.

Background

GBC officially reintroduced the collection of the TV Licence fees in 2015 after years of putting it on hold due to non-payments.

While domestic TV users are to pay between GH¢36 and GH¢60 for one or more TV sets in the same house every year, TV set repairers and sales outlets are to pay an annual sum of between GHc60 to GHc240.

For commercial TV operators, they are to pay GHc36 per annum for each TV set.

GBC had in the last two years since the re-introduction, appealed to Ghanaians to voluntarily make their payments.

Implications of Special TV license court

Following the setting up of the special court, it is expected that recalcitrant TV owners or operators who previously were adamant about not paying the fee will be prosecuted.

According to  Section 1(a) of the TV licensing Act 1966 (NLCD 89) as amended, “Any person who contravenes any provision of this law or regulation shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year.”

Opposition to payments

Meanwhile, some Ghanaians have kicked against the payments accusing GBC of not providing compelling content to motivate them to pay the fees.

Police to help enforce TV license payment – GBC

The GBC Director-General had earlier said the Police Service will help in the pursuit of persons who refuse to pay their TV licence fees.

Dr. Annof-Ntow said the police involvement is to help forestall further challenges with the collection of the fees.

“We made a formal appeal not only to the court, but also to the IGP because we anticipated that we were going to hit a snag and some people will deliberately refuse to pay. So from where we sit, I’m delighted at the fact that the Chief Justice has granted our request. What it means therefore is that, this is an encouragement for everybody to go and pay the television licence.”

–

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post ‘GBC could shut down without TV license fees’ – Ampem-Darko appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Lawyer Oppong also said per his understanding of the law, it does not also border on content but owning a Television set.

Dr. Akuffo Annor-Ntow, Director-General of the state broadcaster, GBC,  had opined that the collection of TV licenses fees will be extended to persons who consume Television content via mobile devices and applications.

[contextly_sidebar id=”uGDduxUFS5ewa59qne2PcMaU79tspArn”]Speaking to Citi News following the setting up of a special TV Licence Court to deal with TV license fee defaulters, he said “ultimately, the laws will extend to those who consume that content on mobile applications.”

But sharing his views on the matter on the Citi Breakfast Show on Wednesday, Lawyer Oppong maintained that, the GBC Director-General’s explanation contradicts the law bringing into force the TV Licensing regime.

“It is his [Dr. Akuffo Annor-Ntow’s] construction of the law. I’m saying that my construction of the law is that, it doesn’t include anything  either than what we know to be TV. My understanding is that a TV is a TV. The description given through the law doesn’t derogate from our understanding of what is television now.”

Lawyer Oppong said “we should separate what we watch from the TV from a mobile phone because a mobile phone is a mobile phone.”

He further noted that, although the law could be reviewed to include TV content watched on smartphones, the law in its current state does not include that.

“When a law made in 1966 is no more in tuned with modern technology let the appropriate authority repeal it,” he added.

CJ sets up special court to prosecute TV licence defaulters

Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo has set up a special TV Licence Court to deal with people who refuse to pay the mandatory TV licence fees.

The courts, numbering 11, are located across all the ten regions of the country, and are to sit every Thursday with effect from 4th January 2018.

The courts will sit from 8:30am to 4:00pm on the said day.

Police to help enforce TV license payment – GBC

The  GBC Director-General had earlier said the Police Service will help in the pursuit of persons who refuse to pay their TV licence fees.

Dr. Annof-Ntow said the police involvement is to help forestall further challenges with the collection of the fees.

“We made a formal appeal not only to the court, but also to the IGP because we anticipated that we were going to hit a snag and some people will deliberately refuse to pay. So from where we sit, I’m delighted at the fact that the Chief Justice has granted our request. What it means therefore is that, this is an encouragement for everybody to go and pay the television licence.”

Opposition to payments

Meanwhile, some Ghanaians have kicked against the payments accusing GBC of not providing compelling content to motivate them to pay the fees.

–

By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post 50-yr old TV licence law doesn’t cover smartphones – Lawyer appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.