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DVLA apologises over mandatory GHC108 first aid kit

By
Porcia Oforiwaa
-

 

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has apologised to Ghanaians for introducing the controversial mandatory first aid kit.

Many Ghanaians have kicked against the new policy, saying the GHC108 price tag is a rip-off.

Deputy Minister of Transport, Titus Glover condemned the DVLA for unilaterally initiating the process without consulting relevant stakeholders.

However, in a statement, the Governing Board of the DVLA conceded that “there has not been the necessary public education, discussion and sensitization with relevant stakeholders.

“The Board therefore would want to advise our patronizing clients/customers that the introduction of the “First Aid Kit” has been suspended and put on definite hold. 

"We unreservedly apologize to the general public for any inconvenience occasioned,” the statement added.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com
 

11 questions to ask before getting married

By
Porcia Oforiwaa
-

 

Marriage is not something any of us should rush into. When you marry someone, you are essentially saying that you’re ready to spend the rest of your life with them, forsaking all others. You’re saying that you’re ready to settle down with them and devote your life to them. Marriage means obligations, commitments and dedication. It doesn’t come in kit form, but it’s something you have to work at.

Besides the usual, “Do you take such and such to be your lawfully married husband/wife?” question, there are also a few questions you need to answer before you walk down the aisle. Answering these questions should help to confirm whether you are ready to get married or not, and they should help to avoid a nasty and painful divorce that none of us should ever have to go through. Without further ado, let’s take a look at 11 questions to ask before getting married.

1. Are You Emotionally Attracted To Your Partner?

This is one of the most important questions to ask before getting married. For a lot of us, it’s necessary that we fancy the person we are dating. But when you marry someone, it’s also necessary that you’re emotionally attracted to them, too. A marriage simply cannot last because of looks alone, so you need to make sure that there are foundations here that go beyond mere appearances. If you’re not convinced that this person is your soul mate, you might want to reconsider whether marriage is really right for you both.

2. Are You Ready To Share Bank Accounts?

Lots of married couples have a joint bank account, as it helps with their cash flow. You both know your incomings and outgoings, and it makes a lot of sense in terms of budgeting. For those of us who still have an independent mind, giving up your own bank account is not an attractive proposition. If you are the kind of person who wants to be able to control your own expenditure without being told, “Hmm, we haven’t budgeted for another trip to the opera this month, I’m afraid,” you’re going to have a hard time being married.

3. Are You Really Ready To Spend The Rest Of Your Life With Them?

This is another one of very important questions to ask before getting married. Committing to just one person for the rest of your life is something you need to think long and hard about. This is the person you are going to be with forever, with no one else involved. It’s a heck of a commitment, and it’s a commitment you really need to be 100% sure of, before walking down that aisle. If you know in your heart of hearts that you are totally committed to your partner, marriage could be absolutely right for you.

4. Do You Resolve Your Arguments?

Every couple fights and argues. Some argue over the little things, such as what film to watch. Others argue over the amount of time one of them is spending at work, whilst other people will fight about the irritable things one another does. If your arguments always end in a compromise and you move on, it’s fine. But if your flare-ups are constant and they always end with you or your partner getting your own way, you might need to reconsider your relationship. A marriage is a two-way street, built on compromise, and if one of you is getting your own way all the time, warning signs should be sounding.

5. Are You Prepared To Make Sacrifices?

If you or your partner loves going to the ball game on the weekend and hitting the bars after work, you have to be prepared to give some of your vices up, once you get married. Marriage is all about making sacrifices and giving up your time to devote it to your spouse. There will be some weekends where you won’t be able to do the things you really want to do in order to spend time with your partner. This is something that will happen and you need to adjust accordingly. Are you ready to do that?

6. Are Your Beliefs The Same?

Here is another one of fundamental questions to ask before getting married: do you have the same beliefs, values and ideals? If one of you is religious and the other is atheist, you’re going to struggle to agree on many things. Moreover, if you go on to have children, your two belief systems will mean that you will want to raise your kids in two different ways. Having the same beliefs helps to avoid conflict, and it means that you’re always singing from the same hymn sheet.

7. Are You Ready To Give Up Your Dreams?

Okay, we’re not saying that marriage kills all dreams, but there are certain dreams you will have to give up. After all, you’ve got a partner and a house to support now. With this comes financial responsibilities and obligations. That super car you always wanted might have to be forgotten, as will that dream of travelling around the world. Marriage is about working towards a shared goal, and as such there is no time for huge individual dreams. Sorry…Unless you both have the same dream.

8. Do You Both Want Children?

Next one of super-important questions to ask before getting married is whether or not you both want to have kids. This one is a biggie, and it’s often the question that breaks up many previously happy couples. For a lot of us, getting married is a giant step towards starting a family. For this reason, it’s absolutely essential that you know one another’s thoughts on children, before getting down on one knee. If one of you wants children but the other is dead against the idea, there’s little point in getting married and thinking, “Oh, they’ll change their mind.” Unfortunately, they won’t. Most people know by the time they hit their mid-twenties whether they want kids or not. If they don’t or they do, they’re unlikely to ever change their minds.

9. Will You Be Faithful?

When we’re young, we’re full of energy and testosterone. We want to go out there and have a great time. We go to parties, get drunk, and we have some fun. If you’re married, your hedonistic days of kissing strangers are over. If this bothers you, and if you know deep down that you will invariably stray once or twice, you should reconsider getting married. Even just a drunken kiss is cheating, and if you know you’ll be way too tempted to embrace another’s lips, it’s probably a case that you’re not yet ready to settle down.


10. Are You Happy With Each Others’ Approach To Health?

If you don’t smoke and your partner does, it can be a deal breaker for some couples. Or, if you drink now and then but your partner enjoys getting tanked-up each weekend, it is again something else you need to seriously think about. Health is a long-term investment, and if you get the impression that only you is making the investment, you might want to either have a serious talk with your partner about their approach to their health, or you might want to call it quits. Two contrasting diets rarely work in a marriage.

11. Are You Happy With Your Partner’s Family?

There has long been a joke that the husband never gets on with his mother-in-law, but it really does matter that each of you are able to welcome and accept your partner’s family. Once married, you will have to attend their family’s birthdays, gatherings, weddings, vacations and so on. This is a big commitment, so it’s vital that you enjoy their company and get along with them.

Do you want to add something else to the list of questions to ask before getting married?

Stay happy!

Photos: Akufo-Addo meets leaders of political parties

By
Porcia Oforiwaa
-

 

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Thursday, 4th January, 2018, met with the leaders of the various political parties in the country to seek their views on some governance-enhancing measures his administration intends to take.

   

The political parties represented by their Chairpersons and General Secretaries, were drawn from the New Patriotic Party (NPP), National Democratic Congress (NDC), Progressive Peoples’ Party (PPP), Convention Peoples Party (CPP), Peoples National Convention (PNC), and the National Democratic Party (NDP).

The rest were Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), United Peoples Party (UPP), All Peoples Congress (APC), Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), United Front Party (UFP), and the Democratic Peoples’ Party (DPP).

The meeting, which was the first between a sitting President and leaders of the political parties in recent years, lasted well over three hours, and was held in a good atmosphere, one of frank exchanges and mutual respect.

Issues discussed included the commemoration of the Silver Jubilee of the 4th Republic, on Sunday 7th January, 2018; the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives; and the creation of new regions, amongst others.

It is the intention of President Akufo-Addo to have further such meetings in the future, with the leaders of the political parties, who described this initiative as a laudable one.


Ghana | Atinkaonline.com 
 

Trump's lawyers seek to halt  release of  new book " Fire and Fury"

By
Porcia Oforiwaa
-

 

Lawyers for US President Donald Trump are seeking to stop the release of a book containing damaging allegations about his administration.

Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House is due for release on Tuesday.

It cites former top aide Steve Bannon as describing a meeting with a group of Russians as "treasonous".

It also questions Mr Trump's fitness for office, reports his wife was crying on election night and says Ivanka Trump has presidential ambitions.
The White House has disputed the book's accuracy. Mr Trump earlier said Mr Bannon – who was sacked in August – had "lost his mind" after losing his White House position.

Among a number of explosive statements, Mr Bannon reportedly said, referring to a Trump Tower meeting between top campaign officials and Russia: "They're going to crack Don Junior like an egg on national TV."

The meeting, which involved Mr Trump's eldest child Donald Trump Jr, is being investigated by Special Counsel Robert Mueller as part of his inquiry into possible collusion between Trump campaign officials and Russia to win the election.

The legal notice, which has been published by the Washington Post, demands that author Michael Wolff and the book's publisher "immediately cease and desist from any further publication, release or dissemination of the book".

It accuses Wolff of making "numerous false and/or baseless statements" about Mr Trump and says lawyers are considering pursuing libel charges.
The lawyers base their notice on excerpts of the book published in publications including New York Magazine and ask for a full copy of the book to be sent to them.

The letter says the book "appears to cite to [sic] no sources for many of its most damaging statements about Mr Trump" and that many claims are made without citing sources.

Neither Wolff nor the publisher, Henry Holt and Co Inc, have yet responded.

The attorney who wrote the letter, Charles J Harder, has been called Hollywood's favourite lawyer. He represents Jared Kushner, and represented wrestler Hulk Hogan in his case against now defunct news website Gawker.

Mr Harder also briefly represented disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein.
He sent a cease-and desist letter to Mr Bannon on Wednesday, saying he had violated a non-disclosure agreement.

What's in the book?

Wolff's forthcoming book makes many claims, including that:

The Trump team was shocked and horrified by his election win
His wife, Melania, was in tears of sadness on election night

Mr Trump was angry that A-list stars had snubbed his inauguration
The new president "found the White House to be vexing and even a little scary"

His daughter, Ivanka, had a plan with her husband, Jared Kushner, that she would be "the first woman president"
Ivanka Trump mocked her dad's "comb-over" hairstyle and "often described the mechanics behind it to friends"

The book is reportedly based on more than 200 interviews but some of the book's excerpts have already been criticised and questioned.
How has the Trump administration defended itself?

"Steve Bannon has nothing to do with me or my presidency," Mr Trump said in a statement on Wednesday.

Press secretary Sarah Sanders dismissed the book as a "trashy tabloid fiction" that she said was "filled with false and misleading accounts from individuals who have no access or influence with the White House".

A spokesperson for Melania Trump said the First Lady had encouraged her husband's presidential bid. "She was confident he would win and was very happy when he did," she said on Wednesday.

On Thursday, the White House said it was banning personal devices, including mobile phones, from the West Wing, citing security concerns.

In researching the book, Mr Wolff said he was able to take up "something like a semi-permanent seat on a couch in the West Wing" following the president's inauguration.

BBC

Special Prosecutor law will ensure prudent use of resources-Bawumia 

By
Porcia Oforiwaa
-
Vice President

 

Vice President, Dr Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia says  the signing of the Special Prosecutor Bill into law is a significant step in the President Akufo-Addo's determination to fight corruption in the public life of our dear nation. 

He said both past and present public officers will be under the microscope and held to account for their actions.

“ This will help fight corruption and ensure prudent use of our resources for the benefit of all,” he said.

The Vice President was speaking at the 86th Annual National Convention Of The Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission At Baghe-E-Ahmad (Pomadze) in the Central Region Thursday.

“Finally, in our attempt to utilize resources prudently to benefit deprived communities, we have signed into effect the Zongo Development Fund Bill which is set up to improve the lives of our people in the Zongo communities,” he added.

The Vice president said, to achieve all these and all other government projects, there is the need for the support and cooperation of all. 

“This means we should all develop a sense of patriotism, eschew corruption and espouse honesty in all our undertakings,” he pointed out.

Dr Bawumia indicated that religious bodies have a mandate to provide training that is capable to transform society and the individual saying, “without this guidance, the human being, in his physical state, has the tendency towards unacceptable behaviours”. 

“Religion is supposed to regulate man’s behaviour in such a way that mankind is guided through reason and understanding. This, brings a person’s physical state under control in an orderly and proper manner. 

He said  there was  no doubt that majority of Ghanaians belong to one religion or the other but  the role of religion in shaping and moulding the moral character of citizens has lately been questioned in terms of deliverables.

“The question is whether religion has been successful in moulding society towards acceptable behaviours characterized by high levels of integrity and honesty or the converse. Many believe that religion has somehow failed in sterilising the society due to the prevalence of high levels of corruption, stealing of public and private funds through inflation of contracts, under-invoicing and over-invoicing, tax avoidance and tax evasion, among others,” he stated.

According to him, the greatest remedy to all of these vices is the continuous inculcation of discipline into the moral fabric of the Ghanaian people and challenged religious bodies to do more in this direction. 

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com 
 

Bawumia: Religious bodies must see themselves as stakeholders in Ghana's prosperity

By
Porcia Oforiwaa
-

 

Vice President Dr Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia says government is determined to partner religious organizations in Ghana for shared growth. 

“As mentioned in the 2018 budget presented to Parliament, Government intends to partner Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) not only to deliver critical social services in education, health and water, but also to support provision of skills and entrepreneurial training for the youth and the establishment of commercial enterprises,” he said 

The Vice President was speaking at the 86th Annual National Convention Of The Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission At Baghe-E-Ahmad (P0madze) in the Central Region Thursday.  The theme for the occassion was: “Ensuring a Disciplined Society: The Role of Religion'.

He therefore urged religious bodies to see themselves as stakeholders in the prosperity of Ghana “and let us all unite and work tirelessly to achieve a prosperous Ghana.”

He also said the  government of Nana Akufo-Addo is committed to building a robust economy to provide equal opportunity for all Ghanaians by rolling out some bold policy initiatives and that  tese initiatives require high levels of collaboration, commitment and discipline to be successful. 

“Just two days ago, H.E the president signed five bills into law. They are: the office of the Special Prosecutor Bill, The Northern Development Authority Bill, Coastal Development Authority Bill, Middle Belt Development Authority Bill and the Zongo Development Fund Bill.

“First, The Northern Development Authority, Coastal Development Authority and Middle Belt Development Authority bills will manage the cedi equivalent of $1 million allocation to every constituency to undertake basic infrastructure projects. This is aimed at enhancing bottom-up development by increasing economic activity at the local level, and can only be achieved with significant levels of discipline and commitment,” the Vice President said.

Dr Bawumia also said the signing of the Special Prosecutor Bill into law is a significant step in the president’s determination to fight corruption in the public life of our dear nation. 


He also gave the assurance that both past and present public officers will be under the microscope and held to account for their actions saying, “this will help fight corruption and ensure prudent use of our resources for the benefit of all”.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com 
 

Turkey minister tells police to break drug dealers' legs

By
Porcia Oforiwaa
-

 


Turkey's Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu has been criticised for saying police should break the legs of drug dealers who are seen outside schools.

The Turkish Human Rights Association (IHD) and secular opposition newspaper Cumhuriyet both accused Mr Soylu of incitement to commit a crime.

He pledged to take the blame for it.

"If a dealer is near a school the police have a duty to break his leg. Do it and blame me. Even if it costs five, ten, twenty years in jail – we'll pay."

He was speaking at a public meeting on security, at a hall in the Turkish capital, Ankara.

He said the security forces' seizure of 20 tonnes of heroin in 2017 had made it a record year for drug hauls.

He said Turkey must fight drug dealers just as it fights the rebel Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

"What we are doing to the PKK terrorists we must also do to drug dealers – no one can poison our future. What the security officer does is my responsibility."

A 2017 report by the EU's European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction says Turkey is a key transit country for gangs smuggling heroin to Europe from Afghanistan.

The report, citing figures for 2015, said methamphetamine was also a growing problem in Turkey, including ecstasy (MDMA) pills that came from the Netherlands and Belgium.
Drug-related offenders account for about 20% of the Turkish prison population, and their numbers are growing, the report said.

In recent years Turkish security forces have also destroyed marijuana plantations in some southeastern areas where the Kurdish separatists have strong support.

Turkey has been fighting a Kurdish insurgency in its south-east for decades.

BBC

Sam George locks up NDC executives in his home

By
Porcia Oforiwaa
-
Coalition of Muslim Organisations

 

Greater Accra Regional Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress [NDC], together with some branch executives of the party in the Ningo Prampram Constituency and a Citi FM Journalist, were on Wednesday afternoon locked up in the residence of the Ningo Prampram MP, Sam George for nearly an hour.

According to Citi News’ Tema Correspondent, Elvis Washington, he was locked up together with all the party executives on the instructions of Mr. Sam George as some heavily built men believed to be land guards threatened to beat them up.

Elvis Washington said the party officials and branch executives were in the house of the MP because some re-registration booklets that were to be handed over to the constituency executives from the national headquarters, had been allegedly diverted to the MP’s house, a situation that did not go down well with the branch executives who stormed the house to demand explanations.

According to Washington, he together with the branch executives were initially prevented from entering the premises, just when Madam Sherry Ayittey arrived with a team to deliver the booklets.

However, the delivery was halted after the branch executives protested against it.

At this point, the former Minister categorically stated that she was unable to deliver the books due to the confusion, and would thus take them back to the national headquarters.
Washington said the Member of Parliament then called the former Minister and other party executives into a meeting for about an hour in his house.

He said after the meeting, the branch executives were called into the house, where he also joined.

“As soon as we entered, there were these land guards who locked up the gate behind us. Honourable Sam George was having issues with the Greater Accra Regional Secretary, Victor Quarshie, and they were arguing seriously and the man was raising his voice saying that Sam George had attacked his personality, suggesting that he was nobody but for politics they are colleagues. And information I picked from the ground was that, Mr. Sam George asked Mr. Quarshie to come and address the people, insisting that the branch executives were not invited at that meeting.”

This back and forth over whether or not the branch executives should be part of the meeting, escalated the confusion between the two men, and Mr. Quarshie opted to leave the house.

“So Mr. Quarshie said he was not going to tell the people any lies but the truth. So Mr. Quarshie opted to leave the house and we all decided to follow him because we sensed danger. When he got to the gate, upon the instructions of Mr. Sam George, they [Land guards] said they will not allow us to leave. So we were all in there begging and there are sound bites I have to that effect. We pleaded with the land guards but they said they will not allow us unless Sam George instructs them to do so” Elvis narrated.

At this point however, the former Minister Sherry Ayitey, was outside the house

Elvis Washington added that, when the police was called into to calm the situation and rescue them from the house, they were eventually disregarded by the MP.

“The police then came in and spoke to the MP. But according to the police, Mr. Sam George damned them. In one of the sound clips, I was even begging the police to help us out of the house but they didn’t. The Land guards only allowed the police to leave and locked us again, and then we begged repeatedly before the MP finally allowed us to leave the premises” Washington added.

Sam George denies the narration

When the MP, Sam George was called on Eyewitness News, he blatantly denied any such incident saying he was not available in the house and could not confirm such an incident.

When he was reminded that Citi News’ Correspondent had evidence of his presence in the house, Mr. Sam George said he was unaware, and that the journalist would have been trespassing if indeed he was in his house.

In what appears to be a clear contradiction, Sam George later said he only had a meeting with some party executives on internal party matters that he could not divulge.

Victor Quarshie exposes Sam George’s ‘lies’

When the party’s Greater Accra Regional Secretary, Victor Quarshie, who he had the altercation with at his residence was called on Eyewitness News, he confirmed Elvis Washington’s narration of events, saying the MP was not being truthful.

Mr. Quarshie said he was only forced to speak to the due to the MP’s blatant denial. He also said the incident was embarrassing, as he criticized Mr. Sam George’s arrogant posture towards party executives in times past.

It will be recalled that, Mr. Sam George’s election at the NDC’s primaries that saw him defeat long-serving MP E.T. Mensah prior to the 2016 election, was an acrimonious process that ended in fisticuffs among their followers.

He has often been accused by his political opponents as an arrogant and violent person, but he has often denied these tags.


Citifmonline
 

Kenya begins free SHS

By
Porcia Oforiwaa
-

 

The government of Kenya has released Sh37 billion (about $357,790,000) to all public schools towards the implementation of free education, a day after they reopened for the 2018 first term.

Sh29.5 billion (about $280,430,000) has been paid to all the public secondary schools for Free Secondary Education (FSE) that has been rolled out as part of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s 2017 pre-election pledge.

The remaining Sh7.5 billion will go to the printing and supply of textbooks for both secondary and primary schools.

As part of efforts to implement FSE, the government increased the capitation fund for secondary boarding schools to Sh22,244 which will be paid directly to the school.
A breakdown of the distribution of the Sh22,244 released Wednesday by the Ministry shows the government has allocated Sh5,122 per student for tuition, which brings the total to Sh13.4 billion.

Similarly, the capitation for cost of operations is Sh6,000 per student, totalling Sh15.7 billion a year.
In a statement, the ministry said a portion equivalent to the cost of the six core course books has been recovered from each learner towards payment for the books under the tuition vote item.

Under the arrangement, pupils in Standard Seven and Eight will each receive four books for English, Kiswahili, science and mathematics, while all students in secondary schools will receive six core textbooks for English, Kiswahili, mathematics, physics, biology and chemistry.

“Schools are expected to acknowledge receipt of the grant by issuing official receipts to the principal secretary for each of the two vote heads followed by receipts to each student for the capitation after they have signed form to be attached to payment voucher as per accounting procedures,” the ministry said in a circular to school principals.

GUIDELINES

The statement was signed by the director of secondary and tertiary education at the Ministry, Mr Robert Masese, on behalf of the principal secretary.
Mr Masese directed all schools to adhere to the guidelines as detailed in the circular issued by the Ministry on the implementation of Free Day Secondary Education.

“For the avoidance of doubt, all national schools and extra-county Schools in Mombasa, Nakuru, Nairobi, Kisumu and Eldoret will charge Sh53,554.00 per year. Any other boarding school will charge Sh40,435.”

In the 2017/18 budget, the government has set aside Sh33 billion for free secondary education and another Sh14 billion for free primary schooling.
 

Source: Daily Nation

OccupyGhana: Repeal ‘obsolete’ TV licence regime  

By
Porcia Oforiwaa
-

 

Governance group, OccupyGhana has called for the existing television license regime to be repealed and replaced.

In a statement, the group said the entire TV Licence regime that was established in 1966 (with just a few amendments) has become obsolete adding, “what is required is not a forcible re-implementation of it, but a root-and-stem review that repeals the existing law and regime, and, if necessary, introduces a new statute and regime that takes the current realities in broadcasting into account”

Below is the full statement:  
 
4th JANUARY 2018

OCCUPYGHANA® PRESS STATEMENT

OccupyGhana® Calls For The Existing Television Licence Regime To Be Repealed And Replaced

OccupyGhana® has followed the recent discussions regarding TV Licence Fees, particularly the announcement that specific courts have been established to try defaulters. 
We disagree with these moves for two reasons:

1. There is no constitutional or statutory basis for the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), simply as the designated “licensing authority,” retaining the revenue from what is essentially a tax, and then determining how to use it, outside laws passed and appropriations made by Parliament, and

2. The entire TV Licence regime that was established in 1966 (with just a few amendments) has become obsolete. What is required is not a forcible re-implementation of it, but a root-and-stem review that repeals the existing law and regime, and, if necessary, introduces a new statute and regime that takes the current realities in broadcasting into account.

We will address these matters in turn:

UNCONSTITUTIONALITY AND ILLEGALITY

The Television Licensing Act, 1966 (NLCD 89) and the various Television Licensing Regulations passed under it, provide for the payment of TV Licence Fees for the licensing of the installation and use of “television receiving sets.” These are to exist and operate under the auspices of a “licensing authority” that would be either “the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation or any other statutory corporation appointed by the Minister by legislative instrument.” Every contravention of the Act (including the non-payment of the fee) is an offence punishable by up to a fine of 250 penalty units (GHS3,000) and/or up to one year’s imprisonment.

The TV Licence Fee is simply a tax for owning or dealing in the affected apparatus. GBC is merely the currently designated body to administer the licences and collect those taxes, as an agent of the government. We are not aware of any statute that gives GBC the power to retain the revenue derived from the tax and then use it for its operations, developing content, sharing with other broadcasters or for any other purpose.

That tax revenue is also not listed as one of the sources of funds of the GBC under section 10 of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation Act, 1968 (NLCD 226). Although that section provides that GBC’s funds include “moneys accruing to the Corporation in the course of the performance of its functions,” tax revenue does not accrue to the GBC and does not fall under this rubric. Similarly, if the Minister were to designate another statutory corporation as the “licensing authority” under the Act, that entity would not have the right to use the revenue.

Further, that revenue does not constitute GBC’s “internally generated funds” (IGF). Article 176 of the Constitution demands that “all revenues or other monies raised or received for the purposes of, or on behalf of, the Government;” and “any other monies raised or received in trust for, or on behalf of, the Government,” must be mandatorily paid into the Consolidated Fund. Exceptions, particularly retentions, are only permitted under an Act of Parliament.

That is why statutes such as the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (Retention of Funds) Act, 2007 (Act 735) and the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921) contain strict rules on the use of IGFs, and our statute books are replete with specific statutes (too many to be listed here) in which Parliament expressly allows entities to keep all or part of IGFs. We are not aware of any such statute with respect to the GBC.

It is on these bases that we believe that the automatic retention of the TV Licence Fees by the GBC for its purposes is unconstitutional and illegal and we therefore call for that practice to cease forthwith. Absent a specific enabling legislation, all TV Licence Fees collected should be immediately deposited in the Consolidated Fund.

OBSOLENCE
We further contend that both the regime and the law on TV licensing are obsolete for three main reasons:

(i) The Act defines “television receiving set” as “an apparatus CONSTRUCTED SOLELY for the reception of pictures, with or without sound transmitted by radio” [Emphasis added.] This means that if the apparatus in use, by its manufacture and technology, is not restricted to only receiving pictures (with or without radio-transmitted sound), but is capable of receiving other signals, that apparatus is not the subject of licensing and consequently the payment of the fee. We think that contrary to your expressed view, the law expressly rules out the vast majority of apparatuses (Smart TVs, phones, pads, tablets, etc.) that are currently in use, and which are manufactured to receive and process more than just pictures. Indeed what may even be called “TVs” today are not mere linear broadcast receivers and translators of pictures. They are also used to play games, watch movies, project presentations, display location adverts and browse the Internet. The reality is that a strict application of a law that is based on 1966 technology, to 2017 apparatuses would leave the licensing authority with precious little or almost nothing to enforce the licence against.

(ii) With over authorized 505 radio stations (392 operational) and 75 television stations, Ghanaians have a lot of media sources to consume both local/public and international content. This ensures competition that should result in producing quality content. Also, Ghana has recorded a tremendous growth in the number and diversity of media channels, with Ghanaians having countless media sources such as radio, newspaper, magazines, websites and other online platforms. Further, online platforms such as YouTube, Hulu, Netflix, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video and Google ChromeCast are redefining content broadcasting online and pointing to the future of TV broadcasting. All these are available and consumed in Ghana, driving the growth of data usage. There are also cable-TV services in Ghana who broadcast local channels through set-top boxes. Some of these have become the first choice channels for media content consumption, thereby reducing the audience share for traditional TV transmission. Evidently, GBC is not the only TV media source where public information is consumed for it to warrant an automatic right to TV Licence Fees and to be able to produce and broadcast public information. Further, not all Ghanaians or TV owners in Ghana will consume GTV’s content.

(iii) GBC (managers of GTV) is a commercial broadcaster. For years, it enjoyed an absolute monopoly in television broadcasting and the income from adverts and sponsored contents. Now it has competition and is faltering. Compelling Ghanaians to pay TV Licence Fees to GBC is grossly unfair and anti-competitive. Announcing the setting up of a court for these purposes sends the wrong signal to Ghanaians, that draconian steps are being taken to use the judiciary a tool of enforcement of a grossly unpopular tax. If GBC is unable to be profitable, in spite of years of government subvention and TV Licence Fees, then it may be time to consider selling it.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the world of television has moved from being analogue to the digital sphere. The rules have changed. In a world of digitisation, Ghana should be thinking of laws and policies that look into the future, and seek to create the enabling smart digital environment for prosperity and opportunities for all. You cannot, in 2017, be seeking to implement laws based on obsolete and currently inapplicable 1966 technology and then seek to punish Ghanaian for not complying with it. 
That is why we are advocating the repeal of the 1966 law and regime, and if necessary, the enactment of new laws that take the new realities into account.

Yours in the Service of God and Country.
OccupyGhana®

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com 
 

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