MultiChoice Ghana has finally agreed to reduce DStv subscription prices following engagements with the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, and the National Communications Authority (NCA).
Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, Sam George, on Friday, September 5, disclosed that the pay-TV provider reached out to the ministry ahead of the expiration of its suspension notice, expressing readiness to comply with the government’s directive to review its tariffs.
He said a stakeholder committee has been established to determine the percentage of reduction that will be applied.
The committee will comprise representatives from the Ministry, the NCA, MultiChoice Ghana, and MultiChoice Africa, with the minister himself serving as chair.
“MultiChoice has requested a 30-day window for the committee to arrive at what percentage of reduction will be achieved. So let’s be clear, they have finally accepted that there’ll be a reduction. Now they want us to discuss the level of reduction,” Sam George stated.
He, however, stressed that the government will not allow a prolonged process, giving the committee a strict 14-day mandate, inclusive of weekends, to present a suitable price reduction structure by September 21, 2025.
The minister explained that the approach mirrors the consultative process previously adopted with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), which led to reductions in mobile data prices.
The development comes after months of tension between the government and MultiChoice over subscription charges. In July 2025, the Ministry directed the company to implement a 30 percent reduction in tariffs, citing consumer protection concerns. The directive followed public outcry over sharp increases in subscription fees, with some packages rising by up to 20 percent.
MultiChoice rejected the directive, describing it as “not tenable,” and warned that such a cut could compromise service delivery and threaten jobs. Instead, the company proposed to freeze current prices and halt remittances to its parent company, MultiChoice Africa. The government dismissed the proposals as inadequate.
On August 7, 2025, the NCA issued a formal 30-day suspension notice under the Electronic Communications Act, giving the company until September 6 to comply or risk losing its broadcasting license.
At the same time, MultiChoice was fined GHS 10,000 daily for failing to provide a detailed cost breakdown of its pricing structure, which by early September had accumulated to over GHS 150,000.
The standoff heightened public debate over whether pay-TV pricing in Ghana reflects economic conditions. Consumer groups accused MultiChoice of exploiting its dominant position in the market, while the government framed the case as a test of regulatory power to protect citizens from unfair practices.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
