An Accra Fast Track Court today dismissed an order for interlocutory injunction brought by Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobby, a former CEO of Volta River Authority seeking to restrain the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) from collecting TV licence fees.
The court presided over by Justice RR Batu however said GBC must refrain from sharing the fees till the court rules on the substantive case.
Dr. Wereko-Brobby, who is also the Promoter of Radio EYE’ filed a writ of summons against GBC, the National Media Commission (NMC), the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) and the Attorney General in an attempt to stop GBC from sharing TV license fees with any other entity.
According to Dr. Wereko Brobby, the Fees and Charges (Amendment) Instrument, 2014; LI 2216 only increased the TV Licence Fees but did not authorize GBC to share the fees collected.
The application for interlocutory was filed after the management of GBC decided to go ahead with the collection of the fees despite the suit in court.
GBC has deferred the collection of the TV license fees which was scheduled to start on August 1, 2015.
Lawyer for GBC, Dennis Adjei Dwomoh, said the ruling was expected. But his opposing counsel, Egbert Faibille was happy with the partial victory.
The court’s decision barring GBC from sharing the money according to some formula that would have seen private TV stations benefit, is a victory for the rule of law and due process, according to him.
Other taxpayers who run private businesses do not benefit from any levies collected by state institutions.
Mr Faibille and his client do not understand why money will be collected from citizens and a portion of same given to private television broadcasters.
This publication gathered that the merits of these arguments would be assessed by the court at a later date.
Meanwhile, the NMC and GIBA are expected in court next week to justify why they should benefit from the TV license fees.
African Eye News.com
