Timeline For Establishing DTT-Managing-Company Uncertain?

Communications Minister Mrs Ursula Owusu Ekuful is unable to give a specific date on which the company expected to manage Ghana’s Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) platform would be established.

Speaking to CITI FM Monday, the minister revealed the system, built by local company, K-NET – which will host the DTT-- is yet to be supplied with power and until that is done everything else is stalled.

“I am awaiting that report by the week’s end,” she said.

She added that once the power situation has been resolved, steps would be taken to set up the company, Central Digital Transmission Company.

“…once in place, we can start the countdown for the migration and that includes establishment or operationalization of the company,” she said.

The Ablekuma West Member of Parliament was, however, unable to state exactly when the company would be formed except to add that she has to meet with the stakeholders and she plans to do it within 10 days.

“I cannot sit here and give you a date,” she stated.

Mrs Ekuful’s revelations come amid unwavering concerns that the Nana Akufo-Addo –led government is about to cede the country’s digital broadcasting space to China.

The Ursula Owusu-led Communications Ministry has entered into understandings with the Chinese multimedia company, StarTimes for them to enhance the facility built by K-NET.

Although the K-NET says it has the capacity to expand the platform to take more than the current 40 channels, the ministry is sticking with StarTimes.

This is part of settlement agreements Ghana has agreed to in order to avoid litigation in a London-based arbitration tribunal over a similar agreement with StarTimes that the previous government cancelled.

That contract was terminated because StarTimes failed to meet the timelines for execution.

Read: GIBA concerns baseless; gov’t hits back over StarTimes’ role in DTT

The Minority in Parliament believes the government has gone back to the Asian giant because it seeks to access some loan facilities to pump into other projects; money they won’t get until they go to ‘bed’ with StarTimes.

Read: China loans reason for needless StarTimes DTT deal - Sam George claims

Dep. Communications Minister, George Andah
But the government is unfazed; both the Minister and her deputy, George Neenyi Andah insist their government pulled out of the arbitration process [although the same case was won locally at the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court], to preserve the country’s cordial relationship with China.

Read: It’s a ruse – GIBA fights gov't-Startimes satellite TV project

The Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) contends the deal with StarTimes is bad for Ghana.