Stakeholders in the media fraternity have called for an extensive dialogue to help settle all contentious issues surrounding government’s agreement with Chinese firm, StarTimes.

This follows an assertion by Communication Minister, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful that government cannot be dictated to by members of the Ghana Independence Broadcasting Association since it has the mandate to negotiate deals on behalf of the people.

GIBA, for the past two weeks, has raised concerns over government’s decision to hand over the country's digital migration platform to StarTimes, arguing that since it had already set up a pay-TV in Ghana, allowing them to handle the entire Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) infrastructure would threaten Ghana’s security and independence.

While the Ministry of Communication has come out to state that a relationship with the Chinese firm, StartTimes will create jobs for the people and was a condition for Ghana to secure a $19 billion loan from the China EXIM bank, some state and non-state stakeholders are not amused.



Speaking at a public forum organised by IMANI Ghana dubbed “Unpacking Ghana’s Dance with China’s Media Dragons: the Curious Case of StarTimes,” President for GIBA, Mr. Andrew Danso-Anninkora said the deal was not in the country’s interest.

Citing instances in Zambia and Malawi, Mr. Danso-Anninkora said handing over the deal to StartTimes along with millions of dollars in tax waivers, will put local broadcasters at a disadvantage and distort the pay-TV market.

“We are not against the Chinese, we are just calling for a dialogue. Every Chinese gift is like a Trojan horse. They expect you to do your homework and be prepared because every deal will be made with their own interest at heart. If StarTimes is allowed to control both Ghana’s only digital television infrastructure and the satellite space in the name of digital migration, Ghana would have virtually submitted its broadcast space to the Chinese to control.”



Representing the Parliamentary Committee on Communications, Member of Parliament for Ningo–Prampram, Sam George said Ghana is at risk of flooding its media landscape with Chinese content and production.

According to him, it was worrying that K-NET which is a Ghanaian owned company was ditched without any substantial reason.

“What StarTimes is doing is trying to penetrate the Ghanaian market. They are going into the most deprived areas with the distribution of 300 decoders.

And with the US$3 million tax waiver that has been granted to the Chinese firm by the government, it is more like we are now financing a Chinese enterprise’s to penetrate our market” he added.



On his part, the Executive Director for Media Foundation for West Africa, Sulemana Braimah argued that it was important for government through the Ministry of Communication to come clean on the deal with StarTimes.

“We are heading for the same trouble that Zambia and Kenya are experiencing. How can we be in the same car, with the same driver and not be afraid of our destination? It’s also sad that parliament granted that US$3million tax waiver. It is even more worrying that MPs like Kennedy Agyapong are condemning what GIBA is doing. I strongly believe this deal with China has to do with some financial benefits we stand to gain. The Communication Ministry must come clean.”

Sharing his view with www.ghanaweb.com, President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe said a dialogue between all the stakeholders was necessary.

“A dialogue is necessary because a decision must be reached. If what the ministry is saying is true and that a contract has not been signed, then let’s talk and get a better deal for Ghana. We have all made it clear that we are not against China or the Chinese firm, we just want Ghana to win."



Background

The government of Ghana through the Ministry of Communication has signed a deal with StarTimes to extend satellite TV to 300 villages in Ghana amid fierce opposition from GIBA.

The deal comes with a 3 million tax waivers from the Government of Ghana.
StarTimes has also been awarded a deal by the Ministry of Communication to finish the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) Network Platform started by K-NET, a Ghanaian-owned firm.

This according to the Communications Ministry is because K-NET has stalled on the project due to financial constraints.