Payment Of Tv Licence - A Civic Responsibility

The announcement for the payment of the revised TV licence fee from August is an issue of public debate with mixed reactions. Though it has been passed into law with sanctions attached, some Radio presenters and owners of Media Houses have been on air inciting the public not to adhere to this civic duty of paying the TV licence fee. 

The interesting aspect of this whole drama is that though a chunk of the amount generated will go to the National Broadcaster, GBC, there is a percentage for the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association, GIBA. 

Therefore members of GIBA are obliged to educate the public on the need to pay the fees instead of engaging in activities that will not motivate them to be alive to their responsibility of supporting the GBC to play its public service role effectively. 

It must be noted that the payment of TV licence fee is a must for all citizens and residents of the country who own TV sets whether they watch GTV or not. The amount to be paid is not for content but it is to enable GBC to position itself well to continue to enhance its public service mandate.  The mandate of the national broadcaster is not the same as the commercial stations, whereas the commercial stations are profit oriented and therefore do not focus wholly on public service, GBC's main objective is to provide public service. 

There is therefore the need for the public to support the national broadcaster in the performance of its duty which is getting quality information to all citizens devoid of serving the interest of any individual or group. It is amazing that some of the people at the forefront kicking against the payment of the fee are very much aware of the mandate of GBC. However, they have constituted themselves into a group with the aim of discouraging people who are committed to contributing to national development. 

They are coming up with all kinds of argument and threatening to go court to suspend the payment of the TV Licence fee. It is difficult to know the motive behind their intention. Whatever their motivation, they should not let their parochial interest override the national good. This is because it is the aim of the framers of the law to ensure that the national broadcaster is supported to perform its functions effectively without going full commercial like the private stations. 

One argument that should be disregarded by the public is the statement being thrown about that, GBC is tied to the apron strings of any government that assumes power forgetting that the Corporation is insulated from government control. 

People who have made it their duty to run down GBC because a greater percentage of the TV license fee will be given to the Corporation should rather focus their energies on telling the Ghanaian public the general benefit to the nation. Apart from improving the overall performance of the Corporation in its public service, duties, the collection of the fee can create Employment Avenue for the teeming unemployed youth in the country. 

These and other benefits to the nation should motivate people to educate the public on the need to pay TV licence fee, rather than focusing on the so called negatives. With the focus on the payment of the TV Licence as a civic responsibility, it is important to get institutions like the National Commission for Civic Education, NCCE, Land Lords Associations, Estate Developers, Teachers to help create awareness for the public to pay the TV licence fee. The payment of TV licence is a must for all.

BY: Ernest Obeng-Anim, a Journalist.