The Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) has on behalf of its members taken the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation (MoCD) and KNet Ghana Limited to court.

The petitioners are suing the MoCD (first defendant) for mandating KNet Ghana Ltd (second defendant) to unilaterally provide “contribution link services” and charge fees.

According to GIBA, the second defendant have the authority to disconnect broadcasters from the National DTT Transmissions platform on account of nonpayment of the fees.

This, GIBA considers as breach of the laws since the defendants are operating without any legal basis or parliamentary approval.

GIBA also accused the Communication and Digitalisation Ministry for establishing and charging arbitrary fees to be paid to a Central Digital Transmission Company Ltd as DTT channel hosting fees by broadcasters, without the approval of the fees from Parliament.

The Association is therefore praying the court to declare the decision of the MoCD null and void.

Among others, it also wants the court to quash the decision of the ministry authorising the disconnection of broadcasters from the DTT Transmissions platform on account of nonpayment of the fee charged for Contribution Link services.