The West African Regional Director of CUTS International, Appiah Kusi Adomako, has appealed for urgent, good-faith negotiations between MultiChoice Ghana and the government after the Ministry of Communication imposed a statutory GH¢10,000-per-day fine on the pay-television operator for failing to submit requested pricing data under the Electronic Communications Act. The penalty came into effect on Friday, August 15, 2025.
Sector Minister Samuel Nartey George announced the sanction during a meeting with DStv representatives on August 14, saying the regulator needs a full breakdown of bouquet prices, tax components and comparative pricing with at least six other African countries to support efforts to reduce subscription costs for Ghanaian consumers.
The minister said DStv had been granted an extension to submit the information by Monday, August 11, 2025, but did not comply.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on August 15, Adomako warned that the dispute risks harming both sides if it escalates.
He urged MultiChoice to engage the ministry and called on government, industry, consumers and civil society to press for a negotiated solution. “MultiChoice needs to soften its heart and see Ghana as a market it shouldn’t exit.
They need Ghana, and we also need them,” he said, adding that a compromise could have been reached through direct dialogue.
Adomako expressed concern about the possibility of a market exit and emphasised the need to preserve the mutual benefits of DStv’s presence in Ghana, from employment to entertainment services.
He argued that transparent pricing data and open negotiation would help protect consumers while allowing the company to explain constraints such as cost structure and regional pricing dynamics.
The dispute highlights growing tensions between regulators seeking greater transparency to lower consumer costs and operators concerned about commercial sensitivity and competitive positioning.
If unresolved, the stalemate could lead to mounting fines, reputational damage, and the threat of service disruption outcomes likely to hurt subscribers and the broader media ecosystem.
CUTS and other stakeholders are calling for an immediate mediation process to bring both parties to the table, secure the necessary data in a manner that respects commercial confidentiality where required, and negotiate a path that reduces subscription burdens for households without prompting a retreat by a major regional broadcaster.
