Senegal: Court of Auditors nabs media evading licence fees

(Agence Ecofin) - The problem of unpaid licence fees is reopened in Senegal, following the release of the 2013 report of the Court of Auditors. The institution names and shames the media who owe the Telecommunications and Post Regulatory Authority (ARTP).

We learn that at this time, the debt of the Senegal Broadcasting corporation (RTS) has reached FCfa2.2 billion. In addition to the public company, there are private companies owing the ARTP. FCfa 508 million for 2sTv channel of the Origines Sa label belonging to Senegalese producer El Hadj Ibrahim Ndiaye. FCfa 720 million for Canal Infos News which has not been broadcasting for at least 2 years and which in December 2013, was placed under receivership because of the case against Karim Wade for embezzlement. A FCfa47 million debt is attributed to AfricableTv.

In its 2013 report, the Court of Auditors lists the companies that had settled their debts. These are, amongst others, the Excaf group, the Futurs media Group belonging to Youssou Ndour and the Walfadjri group. It was requested that ARTP take all the necessary measures to have all the companies settle all their overdue licence fees promptly. In 2013, ARTP claimed FCfa 3 billion in licence fees from television channels and radio stations.