Communications and Digitalisation Minister, Samuel Nartey George, has doubled down on his warning to revoke MultiChoice Ghana’s operating licence by August 7 if DSTv fails to reduce what he calls “unjustifiably high” subscription fees.
Despite a behind-the-scenes intervention by the Minority in Parliament urging dialogue, the Minister insists the move is necessary to protect Ghanaian consumers.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, August 4, Mr. George expressed gratitude to the Minority members on Parliament’s Communications Committee for engaging him but said the government would proceed with regulatory action if MultiChoice does not comply.
“For the records, let me state that I met the Ghanaian management of DStv on the 27th of June this year to raise my concerns with them. I subsequently wrote to invite their headquarters management and met them on 4th July. A meeting that was held on a holiday and at which I indicated our request of a 30% reduction and the need for DStv to deal with piracy which was being perpetrated on their platform to the detriment of Ghana,” he revealed.
The Minister said MultiChoice responded with a nine-page letter on July 21 but failed to adequately address the Ministry’s demands.
He described the company’s conduct as that of a “recalcitrant monopoly” ignoring its customers.
“On the 7th of August, the Regulator would initiate action in line with the terms of the license authorisation and the Electronic Communications Act, Act 775. We would act within the law and in the interest of the Ghanaian people,” Mr. George declared.
He added that his actions are rooted in the government’s broader “RESET” agenda aimed at ensuring accountability and transparency across sectors.
