Ursula Owusu Warns Of Potential TV Signal Disruption In 2024

Ghana’s Communications Minister, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has issued a stern warning that TV signals may face disruption in the coming year if broadcasters fail to meet their financial obligations.

According to her, this has become necessary because some broadcasters have refused to pay for their use of the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) platform.

The minister, who doubles as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the good people of Ablekuma West Constituency, emphasized the importance of broadcasters paying for the use of the airwaves to ensure the sustainability of the broadcasting industry.

Ursula further revealed that the government has invested significantly into the industry by covering the cost of the operating platforms. However, it can no longer bear the expenses. she expressed concern that some broadcasters, despite several notices, have not fulfilled their financial commitments, jeopardizing the continuity of TV services.

The minister made this known while speaking in Parliament on Monday, December 11, 2023.

“None of the broadcasters on the DTT platform pay for using it and this situation cannot continue in continue in our current economic state. GIBA is not a broadcaster hosted on this platform. So I don’t know in which capacity they would be acting. They have members who are broadcasters on the DTT platform but none of them have paid a pesewa today for being hosted on the platform,” she said.

She continued by asserting that, “Government says it cannot continue to pay for it. So if they do not pay for it, unfortunately, we may find ourselves in the situation where we cannot receive TV broadcast signals because the platform will be shut down.”