TV License Saga: No to Special Court – Gabby

A leading New Patriotic Party (NPP) member Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko has kicked against moves to set up Special Courts to prosecute TV license defaulters.

The TV licensing Act 1966 (NLCD 89) of Ghana mandates the collection of license fees from persons or households owning TV sets. The collection of the fee was reintroduced in 2015.

Domestic TV users are to pay between GH¢36 and GH¢60 for one or more TV sets in a household while TV set repairers and sales outlets are to pay an annual sum of between GHc60 to GHc240. Commercial TV operators are to pay GHc36 per annum for each TV set.

The Chief Justice recently set up a special TV License Court to handle cases of defaulters. The decision has courted huge public outcry with the majority declaring they will not pay.

Speaking on the issue, Mr. Otchere-Darko said he supports the idea behind the TV license, but instituting a special court to “enforce payment or punish defaulters” is worrying.

“We should not be averse to paying TV license,” the former Executive Director of pro-NPP outfit Danquah Institute posted on Facebook.

According to him, instead of a special court, the state-owned broadcaster GTV must strengthen its revenue collection mechanism to reach out to the public.

He added: “I think it is an important good and can help GTV serve us and their staff much better. What I disagree with though is having a special court to enforce payment or punish defaulters.

“Let GTV concentrate more on building the infrastructure that can help them to collect. Ask yourselves, when was the last time you received a demand notice at home or in the office over nonpayment of TV license?”