ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Wereko-Brobbey sues GBC, others over TV license fees

In all, Dr. Wereko-Brobbey is seeking eight reliefs.

 

Former Chief Executive Officer of the Volta River Authority (VRA), Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobbey has sued the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) and three others over the re-introduction of the TV license fees.

The National Media Commission (NMC), Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) and the Attorney-General are second, third and fourth respondents respectively in the case.

Dr Wereko Brobby, who is being represented by Egbert Faibille Jnr. of Faibille & Faibille law firm is seeking eight reliefs.

He is asking for an order of perpetual injunction which will restrain the 1st defendant which is GBC, from collecting the TV license fees from August 1, 2015.

ADVERTISEMENT

According to him, the formula for sharing the fees which will be collected is unlawful and violates LI 226, NRCD 89 as well as NLCD 226.

The plaintiff also contends, among other contentions, that the “2nd, 3rd and 4th Defendants have not been appointed by the Minister of Finance by any legislative instrument to be a licensing authority(s) as provided for by NLCD 89; particularly when 3rd Defendant as an association and/or its individual members are not statutory corporations.”

The plaintiff is also praying the court for an “order of perpetual injunction restraining 1st Defendant, its official, assigns, hirelings, privies, servants, agents and/or any person claiming under or through it; and howsoever described from commencing and/or resuming the collection of the newly introduced TV Licence Fees from the 1st day of August, 2015 or any date thereafter as the formula for sharing same as announced and/or any other formula for sharing same among Defendants is unlawful and a violation of LI 226, NRCD 89 as well as NLCD 226.”

GBC will from August 1, 2015, begin the collection of TV license fee to wean them off government subvention.

Domestic TV users with one set will pay GH¢36 for a licence annually, instead of the old fee of 30Gp. Those who use more than two TV sets will be required to pay GH¢60 for a licence every year.

ADVERTISEMENT

Fees have also been reviewed upwards for commercial users such as hotels from GH¢2 to GH¢3 per month per TV set. Licensed TV dealers such as repairers would pay GH¢5 per month, while retailers and sales outlets would pay GH¢20 per month as TV licence fee.

Out of the amount, GBC will take tha largest share of 72%, the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association will take 15%, the Media Development Fund will take 4%, the National Media Commission will take 4%, Film will take 2% and for managing the collection, GBC will take an extra 2% which will bring their number to 75%.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.com.gh

ADVERTISEMENT