The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Sam George, has assured stakeholders that the government will carefully review the findings and recommendations of the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) Committee before taking any decision on the future of the platform.
The assurance came on Thursday, July 9, when the committee presented its final report to the minister at the Ministry’s Conference Room in Accra.
Speaking after receiving the report, Mr. George described its submission as “an important milestone” in the government’s efforts to strengthen the governance and long-term sustainability of Ghana’s Digital Terrestrial Television platform.
He explained that the ministry will engage relevant stakeholders before making decisions on implementing the proposed measures.
“The report being presented today [July 9] represents an important milestone; it marks the beginning of the next phase of the Government’s efforts to strengthen the governance and sustainability of the Digital Terrestrial Television platform.
“The Ministry will carefully study the Committee’s findings and recommendations and engage the relevant stakeholders as appropriate before taking decisions on the implementation of the proposed measures,” the minister stated.
According to him, the government’s objective is to establish a governance and operational framework for the DTT platform that is transparent, equitable and financially sustainable, while encouraging continued investment and innovation in Ghana’s broadcasting sector.
Mr. George said the ultimate success of the platform should not only be judged by its technical performance but also by its ability to provide reliable broadcasting services, promote media pluralism, support local content development and ensure that Ghanaians continue to enjoy accessible, high-quality free-to-air television services.
He also commended the Director-General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), KNET Ltd and the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) for supporting the process, including the live telecast of the report presentation.
The minister said their collaboration demonstrated goodwill towards developing a cost-sharing channel fee model for the DTT platform.
“The dedication, expertise, and collaborative spirit demonstrated throughout this process have provided the Government with a strong foundation on which to make informed policy decisions,” he said.
Mr. George formally received the committee’s final report on behalf of the government and reiterated its commitment to working with all stakeholders to advance the next phase of the national digital broadcasting initiative.
