It Is Not Tenable To Reduce DSTV Subscription Fees In Ghana – MultiChoice Tells Ghanaian Minister Sam George

Source: Africa Publicity

MultiChoice Ghana has said it is not tenable to reduce its DSTV subscription fees in the manner proposed by Ghana’s Minister of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Sam George.

As earlier reported, on August 1, 2025, during the Government Accountability Series in Accra, Sam George issued a stern ultimatum to MultiChoice Ghana, operators of DSTV, demanding a 30% reduction in subscription prices by August 7, 2025, or face suspension of their broadcasting license. The Minister disclosed that he had formally directed the National Communications Authority (NCA) to initiate the suspension process if DSTV fails to comply. “I have directed the NCA to act swiftly. If by the 7th of August DSTV has not complied, their broadcasting licence will be suspended,” George stated.

The directive follows a July 4, 2025, meeting with DSTV executives, led by Dr. Keabetswe Modimoeng, where Sam George requested a price cut in response to public outcry over high fees and outdated content. DSTV’s nine-page response, dated July 21, justified their pricing by citing a 200% depreciation of the Ghanaian cedi over eight years, dismissing the cedi’s recent 30% appreciation as “a fluke.” George rejected this, noting that Nigerians pay $29 for the same premium bouquet that costs Ghanaians $83, despite the Nigerian naira’s 409% depreciation. “We will not allow foreign service providers to take advantage of our citizens under the guise of economic pressures,” he declared.

But in its latest statement dated Sunday, August 3, 2025 and signed by its Managing Director, Alex Okyere, MultiChoice Ghana said “It is regrettable that the Honourable Minister [Sam George] has taken this stance, notwithstanding our ongoing endeavours to engage with the Honourable Minister candidly and in good faith on this important matter. In an effort to arrive at a resolution, we have made a proposal to the Honourable Minister and the National Communications Authority [“the NCA”] on an alternative further engagement avenue.”

According to MultiChoice Ghana, “having operated in Ghana for 30 plus years, we value our employees, contract staff, dealers, installers, agents, and retailers in Ghana. We are mindful of the dire implications that an impasse may have on you and your livelihoods, and we assure you that we are committed to working together with the Honourable Minister and the NCA to resolve this matter.”

It says “MultiChoice values its subscribers and endeavours at all times to keep DSTV subscription fees as low as possible, despite the extremely challenging competitive and macro-economic environment in which we operate, without compromising on customer choice and the quality of the services we offer.”

MultiChoice Ghana added that “While we appreciate the recent appreciation of the Cedi (which we have never referred to as a “fluke”), it is not tenable to reduce the DSTV subscription fees in the manner proposed by the Minister”, adding that “MultiChoice remains committed to constructive engagement with the Honourable Minister and to complying with all applicable laws and regulations in Ghana and trusts that the authorities will do likewise.”