The standoff between Ghana’s Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, and MultiChoice Ghana, operator of DStv, has escalated, with the Minister describing the company’s latest pricing proposal as illogical and dismissive of Ghanaian consumers.
In a forceful rebuttal to MultiChoice Ghana’s refusal to reduce subscription fees, Sam George accused the broadcaster of failing to respect Ghanaian consumers and prioritizing profit over fairness.
“I have read the release by DStv Ghana and taken full consideration that they vindicate my earlier position that they simply do not take the Ghanaian people serious enough,” he said.
The Minister pointed out that despite notable improvements in Ghana’s economy; a 10% cedi appreciation, declining inflation, and lower fuel prices, MultiChoice Ghana raised prices by 15% in April, a move he called unjustifiable.
He contrasted Ghana’s situation with Nigeria, where regulatory and legislative interventions led to MultiChoice reversing its price hikes.
“The same group operating in Nigeria reversed price increases when the Nigerian authorities sued them. The Nigerian House of Representatives ordered a suspension of the increases. They complied,” he stated.
In what he described as a misguided attempt to placate his concerns, MultiChoice Ghana allegedly offered an alternate solution: maintain current pricing but halt remittance of subscription revenue to headquarters. He dismissed the offer as deflective and irrelevant.
“In all honesty, that offer lacks any logic in my estimation,” he said. “The essence of my action is to see Ghanaians pay a fair price for the services offered. How does this proposal solve the real issue?”
MultiChoice Ghana, in its official statement, defended its pricing model, arguing that regional pricing and operational realities do not make across-the-board reductions feasible.
Still, the Minister insists the conversation must remain focused on price reduction, not side proposals.
“For far too long, corporations have fleeced the Ghanaian people. There has been a RESET and it demands a new style of public service that is fiercely protective of the Ghanaian people.”
While expressing empathy for local DStv staff, he urged them to align with the broader public interest.
“I remain open to constructive engagements that are centred on PRICE REDUCTION. Anything else is tangential and of no consequence.”
With the August 7, 2025 deadline fast approaching, MultiChoice Ghana faces the possibility of license suspension if it fails to meet the Ministry’s directive.
The situation sets the stage for a landmark battle in consumer protection, media regulation, and corporate accountability within Ghana’s digital services sector.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
