Former Minister of Information Fatimatu Abubakar has raised concerns over the ongoing public confrontation between the government and MultiChoice Ghana, warning that the dispute could damage Ghana’s international business image and undermine foreign investor confidence.
Speaking on Prime Insights on Joy Prime TV, Madam Abubakar cautioned that sensitive negotiations, particularly those involving multinational companies, must be handled more discreetly to avoid creating a “spectacle” that could discourage foreign direct investment (FDI).
“We should bear in mind that some of these negotiations can happen, and results can be achieved, without necessarily having social media banter and without putting cameras on it to show who is right,” she said. “This spectacle is not good for the image of a country like Ghana that is seeking to attract a lot of FDIs.”
According to her, the government could have strengthened public confidence if it had announced a concluded deal with MultiChoice after behind-the-scenes negotiations, instead of the current drawn-out exchanges of denials and accusations.
Her remarks come at a time when tensions between the government and MultiChoice have escalated sharply. On Friday night, Minister for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovation Samuel Nartey George issued what he described as a final warning to MultiChoice Ghana.
In a strongly worded post on social media, the minister threatened to shut down DStv operations in Ghana today if the company fails to engage meaningfully in negotiations over a price reduction.
“I have no intention to continue tolerating the disrespect to Ghanaians by DStv,” he wrote, stressing that if MultiChoice is unwilling to honour its initial commitment to discuss tariffs, the government will enforce regulatory action through the National Communications Authority (NCA).
The latest ultimatum follows weeks of a heated standoff over DStv pricing, which the government and consumer groups have repeatedly described as excessive. The Ministry had earlier given MultiChoice until September 6 to agree on a price review, a directive backed by regulatory enforcement threats and daily fines.
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