Minister for Communications, Sam Nartey George, has accused the pay-TV giant, MultiChoice, of disrespecting Ghanaians and offering a “logic-defying” proposal that fails to address the core concerns of affordability and fairness in their service.
This new clap back is in response to MultiChoice Ghana’s latest statement defending its “exorbitant” prices.
The minister, who has been at the forefront of the push for a 30% reduction in DStv subscription fees, revealed that he has dismissed MultiChoice’s suggestion that it continue collecting existing high fees but refrain from repatriating the revenues to its headquarters.
In a sharp rebuttal following the South-African-owned company’s statement, Sam George described the offer as “lacking any logic,” insisting that it misses the point of his advocacy, which is to secure real, tangible relief for Ghanaian households burdened by high TV subscription costs.
The Minister contrasted MultiChoice’s response in Ghana with its swift compliance in Nigeria, where the company reversed price hikes after parliamentary and legal interventions.
“The same Group operating in Nigeria reversed price increases in Nigeria when the Nigerian authorities sued them. The Nigerian House of Representatives took the matter up and ordered a suspension of the increases. They complied,” the Minister stressed in his rebuttal.
However, he continued that “This year, in April, at a time the Ghanaian cedi had seen a ~10% appreciation against all major currencies, inflation had dropped by over 5% and fuel prices had also dropped, DStv announced and implemented a 15% increase.”
Despite the spirited defence, Sam George says he remains resolute in defending the Ghanaian consumer, emphasizing that any future discussions must centre strictly on price reduction.
“The essence of my action is to see Ghanaians pay a fair price for the services offered,” he emphasised.
He continued that, “for far too long, corporations have fleeced the Ghanaian people. There has been a reset, and it demands a new style of public service that is fiercely protective of the Ghanaian people. I remain empathetic to the Ghanaian staff of DStv, but I believe that they should stand with the rest of us as we demand what is right for us. I remain open to “constructive engagements” that are centred on price reduction. Anything else is tangential and of no consequence.”
For now, the tension between the Minister for Communications and MultiChoice Ghana is escalating.
Already, there are broader conversations around consumer protection and corporate accountability taking centre stage. Sam George’s stance has gained widespread public support, with many urging government agencies and Parliament to intervene and ensure equitable pricing structures in line with Ghana’s economic realities.
The ball is now in the court of the regulator, the National Communications Authority (NCA) to step in and resolve the impasse in the interest of the consumers and the company.
