Entertainment
Broadcasters must pay for DTT platform but $10k fee is on the high side – Sam George
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The Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Communications Committee, Samuel Nartey George, has emphasised that TV stations utilizing the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) platform must pay for its usage.
The Ningo-Prampram lawmaker argued that the platform incurs significant costs for the state in its operation and cannot be provided to broadcasters for free.
Speaking in an interview on Joy FM’s Top Story on Monday, December 11, Mr Nartey George acknowledged that while the initial $10,000 charge set by the Communications Minister is on the high side, there should be a reconsideration of the fee.
He urged the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) and the Communications Ministry to engage in a more collaborative approach, emphasizing that both entities need each other to operate effectively in the space.
“The point must be made that this whole thing about the charge is a long-standing principle from the days of Dr Omane Boamah (former Communications Minister), when the DTT platform was built in 2015. There is always been the understanding that the DTT platform is not for free and that there will be a fee to be paid.”
“The issue at stake now is the processes by which the fee is being determined. We as a committee have invited the ministry and GIBA. The Ministry and GIBA need to come to a place where they have an understanding that it is not possible to proceed without the one or the other and that this matter would have to be discussed and agreed on and not litigated on.”
“The Ministry has originally determined a fee of $15,000 which I believe is on the high side even though the DTT appears to be a monopoly, there are other platforms, and there is a fair understanding of how much those platforms charge the same TV stations for broadcasting their content which is in the region of $7,500. So I hold the view that will be a fair place to start the conversation,” he told host Evans Mensah.
On Monday, December 11, Communications Minister Ursula Owusu-Ekuful issued a warning that television signals to homes and offices may be cut next year if operators fail to pay for the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) platform.
The Minister emphasized that the government has been covering the cost of operating the platform, incurring millions of dollars, and can no longer bear the expense.
In response to this warning, the President of the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA), Andrew Danso-Aninkora Sunkwa-Mills, described the caution as ‘unfortunate.’
In an interview with JoyNews, Mr Sunkwa-Mills stated that GIBA opposes the arbitrary allocation of fees on a national platform by the Communications Ministry.
He highlighted that the Minister initially proposed a fee of $15,000 a month per station, which was later reduced to $10,000 a month after the fee faced challenges and the Association called for a breakdown.
Mr Sunkwa-Mills emphasized that the DTT platform is monopolistic, and the determination of rates or fees must align with the Rate and Fees Act passed and managed by the Finance Committee of Parliament.
What is DTT?
Digital Terrestrial Television is a technology for terrestrial television where television stations broadcast television content in a digital format.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
After a show-stopping run on stage, Fiifi Coleman Productions is taking ‘I Told You So’ to the big screen.
This follows a successful roadshow tour across Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi and Cape Coast.
The final leg saw Cape Coast come alive on September 4 and 5, as Fiifi Coleman Productions staged a breathtaking rendition of the Bob Cole classic at the Centre for National Culture (CNC).
Patrons showed up in extraordinary numbers, filling the auditorium with energy, laughter, nostalgia and deep cultural pride. Over the two-night run, the production drew more than 2,000 patrons, making the showcase, dubbed The Afahye Experience, one of the most memorable highlights of the festival season.
Speaking to the media in an interview on Monday, September 7, Fiifi Coleman said the adaptation seeks to protect Ghana’s cultural heritage and history.
According to him, the storyline remains relevant in today’s society and the current generation has lessons to learn from it.
“The movie takes you through family responsibility, and who has the right in the family when it comes to marriage, the father or uncle?” he quizzed.
He noted that in recent times families often shelve the need to conduct necessary background checks before marriage, adding that ‘I Told You So’ brings all these issues to the fore.
He also revealed that the feature film would be due for premiere in March 2027 in commemoration of Ghana’s 70th independence celebrations.
The stage production delivered a seamless blend of humour, heritage and contemporary relevance, reminding patrons of the enduring power of Ghanaian theatre to unite communities and celebrate identity.
With its successful run on stage, the team is now taking a bold step to adapt it for cinema.
He expressed his appreciation to all stakeholders for their support in making the project a success.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
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Miss World Ghana 2026, Rumzia Sule, has returned home after representing Ghana at the Miss World 2026 pageant in Vietnam.
Rumzia arrived at the Accra International Airport on Tuesday, September 8, where she received a warm welcome from members of the Miss Ghana Organisation, her fellow queens and runners-up, family members and well-wishers.
The beauty queen was welcomed with flowers and the Ghana flag as she reunited with loved ones following her international pageant journey.
Rumzia was among 111 national ambassadors who participated in the 2026 Miss World Festival in Vietnam.
The grand finale was held on September 5 in Nha Trang, where Joheirry Mola Dominguez of the Dominican Republic was crowned Miss World 2026. Elisabeth Reynés of Spain was named first runner-up, while Taanusiya Chetty of Malaysia emerged as second runner-up.
Although Ghana did not take the overall crown, Rumzia made the country proud with her strong showing in the Beauty With a Purpose segment. Her sanitation-focused project earned her a place among the Top 6 African finalists in the segment.
Her project has focused on promoting sanitation and encouraging Ghanaians to take responsibility for keeping their communities clean. As part of the project, she joined the President’s clean-up campaign and collaborated with the “Bus Stop Boys” to clean some principal streets in Accra.
She also donated GH¢10,000 to the Bus Stop Boys to support their sanitation efforts as well as victims of the Accra floods in June 2026.
Later in the year, Rumzia is expected to extend the campaign to schools, where she will engage children on the importance of maintaining a clean and healthy environment.
Rumzia earned the opportunity to represent Ghana internationally after winning the 69th Miss Ghana pageant in July 2026. The competition was held under the theme: ‘Empowering Women, Enduring Legacy.’
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
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You can now read the Ghanaian Times and The Spectator newspapers from the comfort of your device via TimesNewsPlus.
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