Gov’t Can’t Bear DTT Costs Alone – Sam George Calls for Shared Funding

The Minister for Communication, Digital Innovation and Technology, Sam George, has cautioned that government alone cannot continue subsidising operations of Ghana’s Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) network, stressing the need for a sustainable cost-sharing model.

Speaking at the “Broadcasting at the Crossroads” forum organised by the Africa Media Bureau at the Alisa Hotel on Friday, September 26, 2025, the minister said the platform, launched in 2016 under Edward Omane Boamah, was originally designed for broadcasters to gradually assume full payment of operating costs. TV stations were to pay nothing in the first year, 50% in the second, 75% in the third, and later cover all costs.

However, the plan was never fully enforced. An earlier attempt by a past administration to collect fees was blocked in court by the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA). As a result, more than 45 broadcasters have used the platform for nearly a decade without contributing to its upkeep.

Sam George noted that government has shouldered the entire operational burden, a situation he described as unsustainable. “The free ride bus is running out of gas, and we need a sustainable way of fueling the DTT bus,” he said.

He further disclosed that as demand for slots on the network grows, expansion is underway, but broadcasters must also play their part. A stakeholder meeting will soon be convened to agree on a practical cost-sharing arrangement that will ensure the long-term viability of the DTT ecosystem.