The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has raised concerns that a proposed charge on television stations could further strain Ghana’s media industry and weaken its ability to effectively scrutinise government.
Prince Sefah, spokesperson for the NPP’s Communications and Digitalisation Committee, said broadcasters were already operating under significant financial pressure and that imposing additional costs could threaten the viability of some media organisations.
Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Wednesday, September 9, Mr Sefah described the proposed charge as “wicked” and “unconscionable”, arguing that the government should instead consider measures that support the sustainability of the media sector.
“The media landscape is already one that is stressed financially,” he said.
Mr Sefah said the NPP’s concern went beyond the immediate financial implications of the proposed charge, stressing that a financially weakened media could struggle to perform its watchdog role effectively.
He argued that the media remains an important institution for holding public officials accountable and ensuring that citizens have access to information about government activities.
“The media is the proper state which is supposed to really keep government in check,” he said.
The NPP spokesperson also disputed aspects of the government’s position on the financial arrangements surrounding television stations.
According to him, the previous NPP administration absorbed infrastructure-related costs for television stations during its eight years in office, which he estimated at about $13,000 per month per station.
He contrasted that figure with what he described as a proposed charge of $7,000, although he did not clearly establish whether the latter amount represented a monthly or annual payment.
Mr Sefah therefore urged the government to reconsider the proposed arrangement and engage stakeholders in developing a funding model that would not place excessive financial pressure on broadcasters.
His comments come amid broader concerns about the sustainability of Ghana’s media industry, with television stations and other media organisations facing rising operational costs and pressure on advertising revenues.
The NPP representative also used the discussion to defend the previous administration’s record in the communications and digitalisation sector, rejecting claims that the sector experienced neglect or stagnation under the Akufo-Addo government.
He cited the Ghana Card and the expansion of digital infrastructure as examples of initiatives he said contributed to the transformation of Ghana’s digital landscape.
Mr Sefah maintained that the Akufo-Addo administration built on a digitalisation agenda inherited from an earlier government and advanced key projects, including the implementation of the Ghana Card.
He also disputed the current administration’s characterisation of the previous decade, arguing that the digital sector made significant contributions to Ghana’s economy during the NPP’s tenure.
The NPP is consequently calling for a review of the proposed television charge, insisting that efforts to raise revenue should not inadvertently undermine media organisations’ capacity to operate and hold government accountable.
