Businessman-cum-politician, Papa Kwesi Nduom, has raised red flag over Communications minister designate’s plan to use state resources to fund set-top boxes for Ghanaians in the digital television migration this year. Ghana is expected to migrate from analogue to Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting by September 2017 to among others, ensure that broadcasting services are protected from interference and for improved services.
At her vetting Wednesday, Communications minister-designate, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, told the Appointments Committee of Parliament that she intends to look for funds for set-top boxes to enable those with analog TV sets in the country watch digital transmission.
“…My priority now is looking for the financing to power the network that has been the infrastructure put in place, and then subsequent to that, we can think about looking for additional funding for the set-top boxes which will enable those who have analog TV sets watch the new digital transmission; so once we solve all these problems, then we can stick to the September 2017 timeline, but if need be, we may have to extend it,” Mrs Owusu-Ekuful said. But Dr Nduom who is the founder of the Progressive People’s Party and a media owner, has raised concerns about the minister-designate’s plan to fund TV set-top boxes for Ghanaians from the scarce public finance.
“In my humble opinion, and yes, as an investor in the system, our challenged government treasury must not be used to acquire set top boxes and the like,” he wrote on his Facebook wall Wednesday.
He added: “Government cannot buy set top boxes or digital television sets for all Ghanaians. We now have pension funds in Ghana to provide long term capital if the rules are revised to deal with such wants within the private sector,”.
Dr Nduom has consequently urged the minister-designate to engage the private sector with the view to letting the market fill the void. “Only the best and cost-effective solutions should prevail in the end. The new administration should spend its time on those matters that fall in the “need” category,” he advised the Akufo-Addo government which took the governance of the country on January 7, 2017.
Source: 3news.com
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THEY HAVE STARTED OOO, THEY HAVE STARTED!! "YOU CANNOT CHANGE THE SPOTS OF A TIGER!! IT ONLY GROWS BIGGER," HMMM. WE ARE WATCHING VERY KEENLY!!
Such infantile ideas would be coming from this end for some time cos the minister designate os yet to understand that her responsibilities do not include political fundraising
There is everything wrong with it Osaka. Can you tell me how much tax you paid last year? What they are trying to do is give out contracts to themselves on behave of the government. Digitizing Television is not a necessity.People can live with out Television. This is all ignorance. You need to educate yourselves. Now The NPP said the country's finance is in a very bad shape so why go spend money on TV's. Africans, Ghanaian you need to stop your tribal political ***barred word*** and look at the bigger picture. All these politician(NPP and NDC) are not helping you all. This is lunacy and I am sorry but you all are not going anywhere. Already I can tell you Ghana is going backward. Sorry Papa kwesi but I dont think you can save Ghana either. I do appreciate your effort.
THE NEW GOVERNMENT SHOULD ALLOW PRIVATE BUSINESSMEN TO BRING IN STANDARD DIGITAL BOXES AND SELL THEM ON THE OPEN MARKET. GOVERNMENT SHOULDNT GET INVOLVE IN THIS EXCEPT TO COME OUT WITH THE SPECIFICATIONS AND THE TIMELINES.
I AGREE WITH PAPA KWASI. What I'm not getting is whether the minister designate intends to mobilize the money as in loans or whichever way in the name of the government or helping the privately owned companies to mobilize the money quickly in order to meet the dead line? Whatever the case may be, I don't think that the country is having a strong footing to bear the cost of such top boxes. Private companies should be helped by the government to secure loans or funds from financial institutions or selling stakes to the public to raise such amounts for this project.
I agree 100%. There are more pressing needs than TV boxes, no more chop chop!
The public paid the tax so if some is used to buy set-up boxes, i don't see anything wrong with it. It will ensure some form of equity for we the poor.