Reduce DSTV’s costs or risk being shut down
16
Samuel Nartey George, the Minister of Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovations, has given MultiChoice Ghana a strict deadline: reduce DStv subscription costs by 30% or risk having the broadcaster’s license revoked.
George called a high-level meeting with a MultiChoice Ghana delegation in early July 2025 and urged the business to reduce DStv’s tariffs by thirty percent.
He emphasized that even though the Ghanaian cedi had increased by almost 30% in the last five months, subscription costs had not changed—in spite of the public’s general dissatisfaction and the availability of out-of-date content.
The Minister maintained that consumers desire a lasting price reduction and that promotional offers were insufficient.
He asked for a formal answer by July 21, 2025, so that more talks may take place.
In response, MultiChoice Ghana declared the proposed cut “not tenable” in July.
The business offered a substitute: keep the subscription costs the same while stopping the flow of income to its South African headquarters.
Sam George rejected this counteroffer as illogical and insufficient, restating that justice and consumer protection were the driving forces behind his actions.
Sam George intensified the tone during a Government Accountability Series press conference in Accra on August 1, 2025.
If the 30% price reduction was not implemented by August 7, 2025, he ordered the National Communications Authority (NCA) to start the process of suspending MultiChoice’s operating license.
He criticized the price difference, pointing out that Nigerian subscribers only paid US $29 for the same programming, but Ghanaian customers were spending US $83 for a premium DStv bundle.
“It’s plain stealing,” he said.
As September 6, 2025, draws near, Sam George has reiterated the government’s commitment to make sure MultiChoice Ghana lowers its pricing for Ghanaian customers in accordance with the country’s improving economic circumstances.
He disclosed that the government will meet with MultiChoice tomorrow, Thursday, September 4, 2025, to make a decision during the Digital Africa Summit program in Accra.
“They have up to the 6th of September; if by that time there is no resolution, we will shut down the operations of MultiChoice. No company, no corporate entity is more powerful than the collective interest of the Ghanaian people,” he warned.
George added that the corporation owes the National Communications Authority (NCA) money for not providing the Electronic Communications Act (ECA)-requested vital pricing data.
He disclosed that all attempts to get MultiChoice to review and reduce its prices by thirty percent have been unsuccessful because the corporation is still resolute.
“15 or 16 days ago, I met with MultiChoice and imposed a GH¢10,000 daily fine on them. So now, they owe us 150,000 to 170,000 cedis. The NCA will collect the money,” he stated.
“I have engaged them and asked them to do a 30 percent reduction in line with improved economic conditions in the country; they have failed to comply,” he noted.
Source: newsthemegh.com
