The Minority members of Parliament on the Communications Committee have called on the sector minister, Samuel Nartey George, to provide a full account of the revenue generated by the government from the GH¢10,000 fee imposed on DSTV since the policy’s inception.
They also demanded an explanation for the minister’s reversal of his earlier position, where he opposed any price upgrade, insisting instead on a price reduction of at least 30 percent.
In a press statement issued by Matthew Nyindam, Ranking Member of the Committee on Information and Communication, the minority expressed disappointment with the minister’s current stance, highlighting his well-known reputation for arrogance and disrespect towards concerned Ghanaians.
Nyindam stated, “We wish to put on record that the minority members of the Committee on Communication and Information are not surprised by the minister’s position, given his history of arrogance, disrespect, and pomposity towards well-meaning Ghanaians.”
The statement emphasized that minority members have been diligent in their committee duties, noting that they formally requested a meeting through the committee chairman, who alone has the authority to summon such sessions.
“It is worth noting that the chairman, a majority member, is responsible for summoning meetings, not members with concerns.”
The minority traces back to a previous public statement by Samuel Nartey George during a media interaction, where he declared: “I will meet the Ghana and South African team in my office, and I am clear in my mind that the meeting will not come to an end without an agreed reduction in price. I have seen the attempt by the South African management to say that when you buy a package, they should upgrade you to the next one. We are grateful, but that is not what we want.”
This, the minority have pointed out that the minister’s current stance appears to have shifted, raising questions about competence.
The minority outlined their demands, stating, “The minister should publicly explain why he changed his position from opposing any upgrade and insisting on a minimum 30% price reduction and “The minister must provide a detailed accounting of all funds collected by the government from the GH¢10,000 DSTV levy since it began.”
Again, the statement concluded by declining to demand an apology from the minister for his insults towards the minority, deeming an apology “too expensive” for him to afford.
Background:
The dispute between Sam George, Ghana’s Minister of Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovation, and MultiChoice Ghana’s DSTV centers on the high subscription fees charged to Ghanaian consumers compared to other African countries.
Early in 2025, Sam George criticized DSTV for charging nearly 30% more for premium packages in Ghana than in neighboring countries like Nigeria and Liberia.
He called for a fairer price reduction of at least 30% and threatened to suspend DSTV’s broadcasting license if the company failed to comply.
In August 2025, the government imposed a statutory daily fine of GH₵10,000 on DSTV due to the company’s failure to submit critical pricing data requested under the Electronic Communications Act.
The data was necessary for transparent negotiations on price reductions. Despite this pressure, DSTV resisted reducing prices, instead offering temporary promotional upgrades.
Initially, Sam George firmly demanded a direct price reduction with no acceptance of package upgrades.
However, by late September 2025, his stance shifted. He announced that from October 1, 2025, DSTV subscribers in Ghana would receive between 33% to 50% more value through automatic upgrades to higher packages at no extra cost, rather than a direct price cut.
Source: www.Kumasimail/Kwadwo Owusu
