Minister for Communications, Digital Technologies and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has reaffirmed his position demanding a reduction in DStv subscription prices, rejecting MultiChoice Ghana’s recent counterproposal as illogical and disconnected from the concerns of the Ghanaian public.
This comes in response to a press statement issued by MultiChoice following the Minister’s directive that the National Communications Authority (NCA) suspend the company’s broadcasting licence if it fails to reduce subscription fees by August 7, 2025.
The ultimatum was issued during the Government Accountability Series on Friday, August 1, following sustained public outcry; particularly from Ghanaian youth, over what many have described as unjustified and exorbitant DStv pricing. Mr. George cited the steady appreciation of the Ghanaian cedi, declining inflation, and falling fuel prices as key reasons why price hikes should have been reconsidered by the company.
READ: Suspend DSTV licence by Aug 7 over high subscription fees – Sam George to NCA
In a Facebook post on Sunday, August 3, Mr. George accused MultiChoice of treating Ghanaian consumers with disdain, contrasting their response in Ghana with how the same company responded in Nigeria when faced with legal and parliamentary pressure.
“The same Group operating in Nigeria reversed price increases when the Nigerian authorities sued them,” he said. “The Nigerian House of Representatives took the matter up and ordered a suspension of the increases. They complied.”
Mr. George further revealed that MultiChoice had proposed an alternative arrangement that would allow them to maintain the current subscription fees while agreeing not to repatriate the revenue to their headquarters. The Minister flatly rejected this proposal.
“In all honesty, that offer lacks any logic in my estimation,” he wrote. “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?”
While expressing empathy for the Ghanaian staff of DStv, Mr. George called on them to align with the broader national interest in demanding fair treatment.
READ: MultiChoice responds to Communications Minister’s ultimatum on DStv price reduction
He emphasized that the government’s goal is to protect Ghanaians from being overcharged by multinational corporations and warned that the era of unchallenged exploitation is over.
“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,” he added.
The Minister concluded by reaffirming his openness to dialogue, so long as it centers on actual price reductions.
“I remain open to ‘constructive engagements’ that are centred on PRICE REDUCTION. Anything else is tangential and of no consequence,” he wrote.
MultiChoice’s statement, which prompted the Minister’s Facebook post, defended the company’s pricing model and indicated a willingness to engage with authorities. However, with the August 7 deadline approaching, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
