John AdoyiGhana’s Minister of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel George, has accused MultiChoice Ghana of exploiting local consumers by charging significantly higher subscription fees than in other African countries, particularly Nigeria.
The minister has given the pay-tv provider a deadline of 7 August to reduce its DStv subscription prices in Ghana by 30 percent.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelHe warned that failure to comply would lead to suspension of the company’s broadcasting licence.
Speaking during the Government Accountability Series in Accra on Friday, George announced that he had formally directed the National Communications Authority to begin the suspension process if MultiChoice did not take corrective action.
“I have directed the NCA to act swiftly. If by the 7th of August DStv has not complied, their broadcasting licence will be suspended,” he said.
The minister’s warning follows a nine-page letter sent by MultiChoice to the ministry, in which the company justified its pricing structure by citing long-term macroeconomic pressures. It argued that the Ghanaian cedi had depreciated by more than 200 percent over the past eight years, making it difficult to reduce prices.
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“DStv claims the Ghanaian cedi has depreciated by over 200% in the last eight years, and therefore, they cannot reduce their prices,” George stated.
He rejected the company’s explanation, insisting that the Ghanaian public had endured years of unfair pricing.
“My fidelity lies with the Ghanaian people. They have been cheated for years, and it is time we put an end to that,” he stated. “We will not allow foreign service providers to take advantage of our citizens under the guise of economic pressures.”
On 1 April 2025, MultiChoice Ghana increased its subscription prices by 15 percent across all packages. The Premium bouquet rose from approximately 52 dollars to 62 dollars. Compact Plus increased from 34 dollars to 40 dollars, Compact moved from 23 dollars to 24.50 dollars, and the Family package rose from around 11.50 dollars to 13 dollars.
The minister said these figures could not be justified, especially when compared to pricing in other parts of the continent. He noted that Nigeria is one of the countries paying the least for DStv, with Premium subscriptions costing around 30 dollars, despite the severe depreciation of the naira. Meanwhile, countries such as Mozambique and Kenya pay among the highest, where Premium subscriptions can exceed 80 to 100 dollars monthly.
“How is it that Nigerians, with a currency that has depreciated far more than ours, are still paying less than Ghanaians for the same service?” George asked. “That is not macroeconomics. That is plain stealing.”
Ghana’s ultimatum is seen as one of the boldest steps taken by any African government against the pay-tv giant. George insisted that the move was not about populism but about standing up for the rights of consumers.
