The Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) is seeking an interlocutory injunction at the Supreme Court to stop the National Communications Authority (NCA) from implementing the Conditional Access for Free-to-Air TV broadcast policy.
GIBA is already in court over the matter but believes that without the injunction, NCA would go ahead and implement the conditional access control despite the pendency of the case in court.
In its original suit, GIBA argued that the Conditional Access for Free-to-Air TV broadcast is a breach of the right to free press enshrined in the 1992 Constitution.
It wants any progress in the implementation halted while the case is ongoing.
The Association maintains that “the encryption of content is not a necessary component of the migration from analogue to digital television” hence should not be part of the policy.
GIBA argued that if the clause in the policy is not removed, “all other operators and in fact the general public would lose the opportunity to broadcast and receive information”.
In its writ filed at the Supreme Court in January 2020, GIBA argued that the Conditional Access System introduced as a mandatory requirement by the NCA constitutes an unnecessary restraint on the establishment and operation of private media.
Source: Fiilafmonline/CitiNews
