Ghana’s government has intensified pressure on MultiChoice Ghana after the pay-TV provider raised DStv subscription fees by 15%, sparking consumer backlash and regulatory scrutiny. Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George described the standoff as a “war” on unfair pricing, Reuters reported.
The government has directed MultiChoice to implement a 30% fee reduction or risk a suspension of its license by the National Communications Authority (NCA). A joint committee involving the ministry, NCA, and MultiChoice has been tasked with reviewing the company’s pricing framework within 14 days, as highlighted by Citi Newsroom.
MultiChoice, however, rejected the government’s demand, saying such a cut was “not tenable” and could jeopardize service quality and employment. In a statement cited by Graphic Online, the company stressed it had not agreed to any reductions but had proposed alternatives, including freezing fees and delaying repatriation of earnings.
Consumer advocacy groups have supported the government’s stance. CUTS International criticized the lack of transparency in notifying customers ahead of the increase, while economist Dr. Theo Acheampong questioned why Ghanaian users pay more than subscribers in South Africa or Nigeria despite recent gains in the cedi’s value, as News Ghana reported.
