Atik Mohammed, Policy Analyst of the People's National Convention has waded into discussions regarding the collection of Television license fees in the country.
Speaking on Peace FM's Kokrokoo, Atik Mohammed called on lawmakers in the country to immediately scrap the TV license law and ensure Ghanaians' freedom from paying any levy on their television sets.
Recently, the collection of TV licenses raised eyebrows in the nation as some politicians and a section of the Ghanaian citizenry want the law repealed.
Atik Mohammed also labeled it as a "senseless" move by the National Media Commission.
The National Media Commission (NMC) last month announced the resumption of the collection of TV License fees which is to begin soon.
Executive Secretary of the NMC, George Sarpong indicated that the TV licenses apply to all TV sets whether being used or not.
But to Atik Mohammed, it absolutely insensible for him or any Ghanaian to pay levies when they do not watch the State Broadcaster, Ghana Television (GTV).
According to him, he doesn't remember the last time he watched GTV and so, "something I don’t watch, they say I should go and pay levy on it. It doesn’t make sense to me…I think it is retrogressive.
“Taxes can be very distortionary and this particular tax, not only is it distortionary; it is actually exploitative. So, the earlier we do away with the law that introduces this license, the better," he said.
“I paid levy on the money that I used to buy the TV. Now, how come I should pay levy every month after bringing the TV to the house? It doesn’t make sense. It’s outdated. It has to be repealed…I am confused regarding the line between government communication or government broadcasting or broadcasting government programmes and doing something that can be properly defined as public service broadcasting," he added.
To him, GTV should first be seen to be doing proper public service by recording "fair and balanced accounts of events that are happening.” |
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