The Ministry has also noted that the tax waivers granted StarTimes are “only for the specific equipment, devices/terminals or this satellite TV project.”
“We notice that some commentators and media reports have confused the two projects and ended up concluding that the ministry has handed over the DTT project to a Chinese company StarTimes to operate. The reports further suggest that StarTimes has been granted tax waivers for the purpose and is to utilize the 300 community TV project to advance that enterprise.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state that this project has no correlation or link to the DTT project currently underway,” a statement signed and issued by the Minister of Communications, Mrs Ursula Owusu Ekuful on Friday said.
The Minister explained that StarTimes was executing a satellite project for 300 communities, adding that the project has no bearing on the development of DTT platform for Ghana.
The Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) has raised concerns over the government's posturing towards the Digital Migration of Television.
Responding to GIBA's concerns in the statement, the Minister explained that there will be a stakeholders forum to iron out all outstanding issues in the next ten days.
“The selection of a contract and financing options for any aspect of the project should not be interpreted as an intention to hand over the ownership and management of the platform to any third party,” the statement added.
300 village satellite TV project
The Ministry of Communications will on September 26 launch the commencement of the nationwide ‘300 village satellite TV project’.
The ceremony will be held at Akweibu Basic School in Dansoman, the first beneficiary village in the Greater Accra Region.
The project is in line with the government of Ghana’s commitment to bridging the digital divide between the rural and urban areas, the ‘300 village satellite TV project’ is expected to benefit 6,000 households drawn from 300 villages nationwide.
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