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Minister for Communications Technology and Innovation Samuel Nartey George has issued a stern warning to MultiChoice Ghana, operators of DStv, insisting that the government will not tolerate what he described as “disrespect to Ghanaians.”
In a strongly worded Facebook post on Friday, September 5, the minister made it clear that unless the company reaffirms its commitment to discuss subscription fee reductions, the government will move ahead with shutting down its operations in Ghana.
“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,” Mr George wrote.
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According to him, MultiChoice had earlier shown willingness to engage the Ministry on its concerns about high subscription fees and pleaded for enforcement actions to be suspended. He warned that if the company has now shifted its position, the National Communications Authority (NCA) will enforce regulatory measures without hesitation.
“No company is above the law. When MultiChoice is ready to discuss price reduction, they can come to the negotiation table. Until then, there is nothing for us to meet over. The National Communications Authority Ghana would carry out enforcement,” the minister declared.
The post comes in the wake of a press release from MultiChoice Ghana, which denied agreeing to reduce prices. The pay-TV operator stressed it would participate in the government’s working committee on pricing but clarified that “MultiChoice Group has not agreed to a price reduction.”
The clash follows Mr George’s earlier announcement that MultiChoice had “finally bowed to regulatory pressure” and accepted the principle of subscription cuts. He revealed that a special pricing review committee, chaired by his ministry and including representatives from the NCA, MultiChoice Ghana, and MultiChoice Africa, had been tasked with recommending reductions by September 21, 2025.
While MultiChoice requested 30 days for the process, the ministry has insisted that the review be completed within 14 days.
The standoff comes after weeks of tension, with the government demanding a 30% reduction in subscription fees by September 6. The company has also been slapped with daily fines of GH₵10,000, which have already accumulated to about GH₵150,000.
The government’s firm position has been supported by MultiChoice’s recent submission of comprehensive pricing data, including bouquet breakdowns, tax elements, and regional comparisons across six African countries. Officials say this data is vital for evidence-based pricing reforms.
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