The Minister of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Hon. Samuel Nartey George has disclosed that the government is awaiting clearance from the Attorney-General’s Department before commencing a major crackdown on television piracy in Ghana.
He said the technical work required to address the use of illegal streaming devices and services had largely been completed, with the National Communications Authority (NCA) and the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) reviewing the proposed solutions.
Speaking during a media engagement, Hon. Sam George said the outstanding issue was obtaining the necessary legal opinion to ensure that the planned enforcement measures complied with the law.
“At the moment, all that is outstanding is the opinion from the Attorney-General’s Department,” he said.
The minister explained that the two regulatory agencies had assessed the proposed interventions and considered them viable for significantly reducing piracy.
He disclosed that the government had also developed mechanisms to address the legal implications of blocking internet protocol (IP) addresses associated with illegal streaming activities.
“We’ve put in place the mechanism to be able to deal with those ramifications, and we just need the AG’s all clear,” Hon. Samuel Nartey George said.
He added that although the government was technically prepared to proceed, it was important to secure the necessary legal clearance before implementing the measures.
“Technically, we’re good to go. We just want to make sure that we’re legally good,” he stated.
Sam George said the government was targeting the illegal distribution and streaming of television content through unauthorised devices, popularly known as ghost boxes.
He indicated that the planned enforcement would form part of a broader strategy to protect legitimate content distribution and address the growing challenge of piracy.
The minister also disclosed that the government had engaged Canal+ and MultiChoice to make subscription packages more affordable before intensifying enforcement.
According to him, the government recognises that clamping down on illegal services without providing affordable alternatives could create challenges for consumers who depend on such platforms to access television content.
He said the revised subscription arrangements were therefore intended to complement the anti-piracy measures by making legitimate services more accessible to households.
Sam George indicated that the government was working towards commencing the crackdown after the required legal clearance while assuring the public that further details would be communicated when the process was ready.
The minister stressed that securing the attorney-general’s opinion was necessary to ensure that the planned operation was legally sound before enforcement begins.
