Although government has showered a Chinese TV firm with tax waivers, the service it is expected to provide to beneficiaries will come at a cost to them.
The Chinese government will give Ghana equipment to the tune of about $3 million for the expansion of satellite TV to 300 communities in Ghana for free.
In reciprocating this gesture, government has provided a tax waiver of GHc3 million.
The aim of the project which the Chinese government is replicating across several African countries is to bridge the digital divide between rural and urban areas, the Communications ministry has said.
But StarTimes has confirmed, the satellite boxes are free and subscription is also free for six months. But subscribers in rural communities will have to pay for the service after the free six months subscription expires.
NDC MP Sam George has questioned the rationale behind the tax waivers to the Chinese TV firm while local competitors get none.
He pointed out, a local firm which built Ghana’s digital terrestrial infrastructure for a planned migration was given no waivers on imported equipment.