The Ministry of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation has issued a stern warning to MultiChoice Ghana, threatening to suspend its broadcasting licence if the company fails to reduce DStv subscription fees by 30% by August 7, 2025.
Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George announced the directive at a press conference in Accra on Friday, August 1, as part of the government’s accountability series. He revealed that the National Communications Authority (NCA) had been instructed to enforce the price reduction, citing MultiChoice’s refusal to comply with an earlier request despite recent improvements in Ghana’s macroeconomic conditions, including the strengthening of the cedi.
The minister disclosed that MultiChoice had rejected the ministry’s appeal in a nine-page letter dated July 21, dismissing the cedi’s recovery as a “fluke” and justifying its high prices by referencing the currency’s long-term depreciation. Mr. George strongly criticized the company’s stance, pointing out glaring price disparities between Ghana and Nigeria.
“The same premium bouquet that costs Ghanaians $83 is sold to Nigerians for just $29. In the same time frame that the Ghanaian cedi depreciated by 240%, The Nigerian naira depreciated by 409%, yet their prices remain significantly lower. This exploitation must stop.”
Describing MultiChoice’s pricing as unfair and exploitative, the minister vowed to protect Ghanaian consumers from what he called “plain stealing.” He emphasized that the government’s intervention was necessary to ensure transparency and affordability in the digital broadcasting sector. “I cannot stand by while Ghanaians are being fleeced,” he stated. “If MultiChoice fails to adjust its prices by August 7, the NCA will suspend its licence.” The directive aligns with the ministry’s broader efforts to promote value for money and equitable pricing in digital services.
The standoff follows months of public complaints over DStv’s high subscription costs, with many Ghanaians calling for regulatory action. MultiChoice has defended its pricing, arguing that past currency fluctuations make a price reduction unsustainable.
However, the government remains unconvinced, insisting that current economic conditions warrant lower fees. As the August 7 deadline approaches, all eyes are on MultiChoice to see whether it will comply or risk losing its licence to operate in Ghana—a move that could have major implications for the pay-TV market in the country.
