The Minority in Parliament is demanding an urgent parliamentary hearing to summon the Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Samuel Nartey George, and officials of MultiChoice Ghana over the rising cost of DStv subscription packages in the country.
This follows the saga between Mr. George and management of DSTv over high subscription fees. Mr. George has warned the company that its licence will be revoked by August 7 if fees continue to be higher following public outcry.
However, DSTv in response noted that the demands by Mr. George is not tenable.
The Minority, in a statement signed by Ranking Member of the Information and Communications Committee, Matthew Nyindam, waded into the situation, calling for the summon.
They argue that the move is necessary to examine the basis of MultiChoice’s pricing model and ensure the National Communications Authority (NCA) is fulfilling its consumer protection duties.
The Minority also backed recent citizen-led advocacy against high DStv prices, stressing that Ghanaian consumers are paying significantly more than their counterparts in neighbouring countries for similar services.
“We fully support the advocacy initiated by patriotic citizens, which has now attracted the attention of the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation. We agree that subscription fees must be set fairly and that pricing must reflect the realities of Ghana’s economy,” the statement read.
While supporting the Ministry’s stance, the MPs warned against further public confrontations between government officials and MultiChoice, urging both sides to resolve the matter diplomatically.
“While we recognise the Ministry’s commitment to protecting the Ghanaian consumer, we believe solutions must be grounded in law, fairness, and constructive engagement. The goal should be to secure a price reduction for Ghanaians while maintaining a stable investment environment,” the Minority stated, adding that Parliament must play a central role in delivering transparency and fairness in pay-TV pricing.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
