Tag: MultiChoice Ghana

An update on the unresolved tension between the Ministry of Communications and MultiChoice Ghana, operators of DStv, is expected to be delivered today, Monday, September 29, by the sector minister, Samuel Nartey George. The standoff between the two parties revolves around Sam George’s calls for a reduction in DStv subscription packages for Ghanaian customers.

Sam George had earlier instructed the National Communications Authority (NCA) to suspend the broadcast of DStv should Multichoice fail to reduce prices of its packages.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Friday, September 5, Sam George noted that the government has established a joint committee with MultiChoice Ghana to reach a final agreement on how its prices will be adjusted to ensure Ghanaian customers pay less.

“We have taken an immediate step to put together a committee comprising representatives from the ministry, the regulator, NCA, Multichoice Ghana, and Multichoice Africa. I will personally chair the committee.Let us be clear—they have finally accepted that there will be a reduction and they want us to discuss the level of reduction. I believe that as a minister, we do not need 30 days,” he said.

On Wednesday, September 24, the National Communications Authority (NCA) announced a 7-day extension window for the stakeholder committee set up to review DSTV’s pricing model in Ghana to present their report by September 29. The committee is expected to present its report on Monday, September 29, 2025.

Originally scheduled to present its final report by September 22, the committee requested an extension, which was granted by the Minister of Communications and Digital Technology and Innovations, Sam George.

In a statement released by the NCA, it announced that “Whilst the Committee has made significant progress, it has requested an extension of one week to complete its work, which extension has been granted by the Honourable Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations. Consequently, the outcome of the Committee’s work is expected to be presented by 29th September, 2025”.

It continued that “the Stakeholder committee established to evaluate DStv pricing in Ghana commenced work on 8th September 2025, to address the following: a. Achieve a shared understanding of DStv pricing for Ghana and structured, mutually acceptable and commercially viable measures to address the Minister’s concerns around the pricing of the DStv service. b. Establish an acceptable roadmap to curb cross-border piracy of DStv decoders/service from Nigeria to Ghana”.

On September 7, the NCA announced that it will have a meeting with MultiChoice Ghana (the company that runs DStv) over the satellite television provider’s pricing model in Ghana on Monday, September 8.

The governing body of the electronic communications and broadcasting sectors in Ghana announced this in an official statement dated September 7 and titled “Update on DSTV Pricing in Ghana”.

It revealed that MultiChoice has responded to its mandate to suspend its operations in Ghana and has expressed its readiness to review its pricing and collaborate with the Committee set by the Minister of Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovation, Sam Nartey George.

“The National Communications Authority (NCA) has received from Multichoice Ghana its response to the notice of intention to suspend their authorisation and request for their pricing model…The first meeting of the Stakeholder Committee shall be held on Monday, 8th September 2025. The Authority shall provide further updates on this matter in due course, NCA revealed in the statement.

The paid-TV company denied some claims made by the Communications Minister about its readiness to cut prices for Ghanaian consumers.

In a responsive statement titled “MultiChoice sets the record straight on DStv pricing” and shared on Friday, September 5, MultiChoice announced its readiness to cooperate with the Working Committee established by the Communications Ministry to find a solution to the discussion concerning the reduction of DSTV fees for the Ghanaian populace.

However, it objected to claims by the Minister that their outfit is ready for a price reduction.

“We have noted the statement made by the Minister for Communications Technology and Innovation, Hon. Samuel Nartey George. We continue to engage with the Minister in a bid to find an amicable solution that is beneficial for all parties involved, but does not jeopardise the viability of the DStv service.

“We will fully participate in the established Working Committee. However, we wish to clarify that MultiChoice Group has not agreed to a price reduction”, the statement explained. The said Committee, according to Sam George, will be chaired by him to ensure transparency and fairness. Consequently, NCA engaged MultiChoice on the statement for clarity.

“…While the Authority reviews their submission, there have been further engagements with Multichoice Ghana regarding its public statement dated 5th September 2025”, the statement continue,d adding that following the engagements,

“…the following clarifications have been obtained: 1. Multichoice Ghana agrees with the directive from the Honourable Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations for the establishment of a Stakeholder Committee to evaluate DSTV pricing in Ghana and that they intend to fully participate in this work. 2. The outcome of the Stakeholder Committee would be determined at the end of its work. 3. MultiChoice has confirmed that it will respect due process and the laws of Ghana and its people”.

Meanwhile, the said committee includes representatives from the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, the National Communications Authority, MultiChoice Ghana, and MultiChoice Africa, which would be chaired by the Communications Minister himself, he stated during the press briefing, citing that this is to ensure fairness and transparency.

The development comes after MultiChoice’s statement denying its purported initial agreement to cut their subscription fees. Taking to his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Sam George highlighted his commitment to protecting the interests of Ghanaians without compromise.

He affirmed that he would not allow any form of disrespect to consumers from any company.

“If MultiChoice has objected to price cuts as they earlier agreed to, then the proposed shutdown of their services in Ghana would hold as earlier communicated”.

“Let me be clear, I have no intention to continue tolerating the disrespect to Ghanaians by DStv. If MultiChoice is not interested, as they claim in their last statement, in discussing a reduction in prices as they had indicated to me, we would proceed to effect the shutdown tomorrow as indicated.

He reiterated that “DStv indicated their willingness to engage the Ministry on its concerns on pricing and prayed us to stay our enforcement action. If they have changed their position, then we simply would enforce the regulatory action”.

The Ningo-Prampram Member of Parliament stressed that Ghana is ready to partner with international firms, but only in full respect of the country’s laws and consumer protection.

“No company is above the law. When MultiChoice is ready to discuss a price reduction, they can come to the negotiation table. Until then, there is nothing for us to meet over. The NCA Ghana would carry out enforcement. Ghana is open for businesses that respect our laws and institutions,” he stressed.

The statement follows Communications Minister Sam George’s claims in an earlier press briefing held yesterday, Friday, September 5, that the satellite television provider has agreed to a price reduction.

During the briefing, he also revealed that, following their agreement to reduce prices, they have asked for thirty days to conclude discussions and arrive at a final decision.

But Sam George outrightly declared that the 30-day window is too much, hence they have just fourteen days to reach a decision. With the 14-day window, MultiChoice has until September 21 to arrive at a solution.

“Let us be clear—they have finally accepted that there will be a reduction, and they want us to discuss the level of reduction. I believe that as a minister, we do not need 30 days. 14 days is enough for us to reach this decision, inclusive of weekends,” the Minister said.

Engaging the public on Friday, September 5, as part of the Government Accountability Series, the minister noted that he received a 9-page document from Multichoice on July 21 over its inability to reduce its subscription fees.

Earlier, the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, announced that should Multichoice fail to reduce the prices of its subscription services, the DStv broadcast license will be suspended nationwide, effective August 7, 2025.

Engaging the public yesterday as part of the Government Accountability Series, the minister noted that he received a 9-page document from Multichoice on July 21 over its inability to reduce its subscription fees.

The company cited depreciation of the cedi in past years, despite the recent cedi appreciation, as the reason for its inability to reduce prices.

Sam George noted that it is unacceptable for Nigerians to be paying less for the same packages offered to Ghanaians at higher costs when the naira has depreciated at an accelerating rate against the cedi.

As such, he has directed the National Communications Authority (NCA) to suspend the broadcast of DStv should Multichoice fail to reduce prices of its packages.

“Their reasons included that the cedi had depreciated in the preceding eight years by 240%, and they claimed that my request for a reduction based on the appreciation of the cedi was unfounded because, in their words, the appreciation of the Ghana cedi over the last 6 months has been a fluke which could not be sustainable.

“As Minister, my fidelity is to the Ghanaian people. I have to act in the interest of the Ghanaian people, and I believe the Ghanaian people have been fleeced and exploited for too long. 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.

“I can’t as a minister serving the Ghanaian people, continue to watch what can be best described as plain stealing happening to the Ghanaian people. In my letter to them, I gave them scenarios from seven markets that DSTV is operating in. The same content in the premium bouquet that is offered to Ghanaians for the $83 equivalent is offered to Nigerians for the $29 equivalent.

“How can anyone explain this price disparity to me? Enough of the mistreatment of the Ghanaian consumer. In Nigeria, in the same timeframe, they say the Ghanaian cedi has depreciated by 240%, and the Nigerian naira has depreciated by 409%. If Nigerians are paying the equivalent of $29, DSTV must charge the same here in Ghana,” he said.