The Minister for Communications, Digital Technologies and Innovations has instructed the National Communications Authority (NCA) to suspend the broadcasting rights of MultiChoice Ghana, operators of DSTV, if they do not reduce subscription fees by August 7, 2025.
The minister said “I wrote back to the NCA on Monday and directed the NCA in that letter to suspend the broadcasting license of DSTV effective 7th of August 2025 if they fail to effect a reduction in their bundle prices.”
This directive comes after the company refused to cut subscriber rates by 30%, despite the Ghanaian Cedi appreciating over the past six months.
Addressing journalists during the Government Accountability Series, the Minister emphasized the need for this action to protect citizens, who he believes have been exploited for too long.
Minister Sam George explained that he had summoned MultiChoice Ghana for a meeting where a 30% price reduction was requested in response to concerns over affordability, value for money, and fairness.
He gave the company a deadline of July 21, 2025, to respond formally.
However, MultiChoice submitted a nine-page letter refusing the reduction, citing eight years of Cedi depreciation totaling 240%, and arguing that the recent Cedi appreciation was temporary and unsustainable.
He recounted“On the 21st of July this year I received a nine-page letter from Multi-choice detailing why they were refusing to reduce their pricing. Their reasons included that the Cedi had depreciated in the preceding eight years by 240% and they claimed that my request for a reduction on the basis of the appreciation of the cedi was unfounded because in their words the appreciation of the Ghanaian cedi over the last six months has been a fluke which could not be sustainable.”
The Minister stated that his allegiance is to the Ghanaian people and expressed his determination to stop what he described as “plain stealing.”
“I cannot as Minister serving the Ghanaian people continue to watch what can best be described as plain stealing happening to the Ghanaian people.”
He also highlighted significant price disparities across markets, noting that the same premium DSTV package costs $83 in Ghana but only $29 in Nigeria, despite Nigeria’s Naira depreciating by 409% over the same period.
Sam George indicated “The same content in the premium bouquet that is offered to Ghanaians for $83 equivalent is offered to Nigerians for $29 equivalent.
“How can anyone explain this price disparity to me? Enough of the mistreatment of the Ghanaian consumer.”
Minister George insisted that MultiChoice must align its Ghanaian prices with Nigerian rates or face license suspension by the August 7 deadline.
Sam George directed, “They either comply with the reduction because in Nigeria in the same time frame that they say the Ghanaian cedi has depreciated by 240% the Nigerian Naira has depreciated by 409%.
“If Nigerians are paying equivalent of $29, DSTV must charge the same here in Ghana or we will suspend their broadcasting license effective 7th of August 2025,” he concluded.
Source: www.Kumasimail/Kwadwo Owusu
