General News of Wednesday, 12 July 2006

Source: GNA

MPs fail to pay TV license?

Accra, July 12, GNA - Members of Parliament were on Wednesday challenged to provide proof of having ever purchased TV license. "Have you paid your TV license fees? I am calling on honourable members to produce their receipts," Mr Stephen Balado Manu, NPP-Ahafo Ano South queried.

The member, who was contributing to a statement on the need for critical reforms of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) had called for active involvement of all Ghanaians in the recapitalisation of the State Broadcaster through the purchase of TV licenses.

Mr Balado Manu said: "My argument is that Ghanaians as a whole are failing the GBC. We go to pay huge amounts of money to buy DSTV and other channels and yet find it difficult to pay 3,000 cedis to have a GBC TV license."

"Let us pay our TV license fees and GBC would have money for its operations."

The statement, which was made by Mr Haruna Iddrisu, NDC-Tamale South proposed a Presidential Commission of enquiry into the affairs of the GBC.

Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, Minister of Public Sector Reforms, however argued that a Presidential Commission is not necessary since Parliament had passed a Subvented Agencies Act, which, he said, took care of the restructuring of the GBC.