A Review of the Transition Form Analog to Digital Television Broadcasting in Ghana

Abstract

Ghana is a country of diverse ethnic and linguistic variation among its population of approximately 28 million inhabitants [1]. It has over fifty languages, hundreds of dialects and a cultural heritage that dates back hundreds of years. Information and communication technology (ICT) has been identified as one of the key drivers for accelerated economic expansion and development in Ghana and it is one of the few countries in sub-Saharan Africa that is expected to achieve some, if not all, of the Millennium Development Goals. Aside DStv whose transmission in Ghana was on a digital platform before May 2008, all the other television broadcasting services enjoyed in Ghana has always been distributed in an analogue format [2]. The Republic of Ghana signed the Geneva 2006 (GE06) Agreement, which established the Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting Plan and cessation or stoppage of international protection for analogue broadcasting transmissions. This paper reviews the state of digital television broadcasting, identifies risks and challenges in the transition from the analogue broadcasting regime to the digital broadcasting regime and suggest some recommendations to ensure the success of the migration. Possible regulatory issues concerning band usage, channel assignments, service licensing was also reviewed and described in the publication. It was established through this research that public awareness on what digital transmission was about and what has necessitated a change from analogue to digital content transmission was very low. Also, there was a risk of financial constraint during the transition period and a weak legal framework against social organizations.