On behalf of its members, the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) has filed a lawsuit against the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation (MoCD) and KNet Ghana Limited over the DTT Transmissions Platform.
According to their claim, the Ministry has directed KNet to disconnect broadcasters from the National DTT Transmissions platform for nonpayment of fees, despite the lack of any legal basis or parliamentary approval.
It added that other broadcasters, who refused to patronise “LINK SERVICES,“ are threatened with disconnection from the National DTT platform.
“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 non-payment of the fees, is without any legal basis or parliamentary approval,” Cecil Sunkwa-Mills, President, GIBA said in a statement.
GIBA is asking the court to restrain the Ministry from charging TV Channel fees.
GIBA is also praying the court to quash the decision by the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation authorizing the disconnection of broadcasters from the DTT Transmissions platform for non-payment.
GIBA wants the court to make “A declaration that the decision of the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation establishing fees for Contribution Link services is null and void for want of parliamentary approval of the said fees. A declaration that the decision of the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation establishing TV Channel fees is null and void for want of parliamentary approval of the said fees.”
“A declaration that the authority granted the 2 Defendant to collect fees for contribution link services by the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation and to disconnect broadcasters that do not pay same is null and void. An order quashing the decision of the Ministry of Communications and Digitalization authorizing the disconnection of broadcasters from the DTT Transmissions platform on account of non-payment of the fee charged for Contribution Link services and TV Channel fees. e. Any other order as the Honourable Court may deem fit”.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
