Suspension of DSTV’s licence looms on August 7 over high prices – Sam George

The Minister of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has issued a directive to the National Communications Authority (NCA) to suspend the broadcasting licence of MultiChoice-owned DSTV if it does not reduce subscription prices by August 7, 2025, following MultiChoice’s failure to adjust prices in line with the recent appreciation of the Ghanaian cedi.

DSTV submitted a nine-page response to the Ministry, emphasizing that the cedi had depreciated by over 200% over the last eight years, and positing that the recent gains in the local currency were unsustainable, hence inadequate to justify a price reduction.

However, Mr George expressed disagreement, reiterating that the government would not permit price rigidity at the expense of Ghanaians.

“On July 21st of this year, I received a nine-page letter from MultiChoice detailing their reasoning for refusing to reduce their pricing.”

Their reasons included that the Cedi had depreciated in the preceding eight years by 240%. They claimed that my request for a reduction on the basis of the appreciation of the Cedi was unfounded, because, in their words, the appreciation of the Ghanaian Cedi over the last six months had been a fluke that could not be sustainable.

“As minister, my fidelity is to the Ghanaian people. I have had to act in the interest of the Ghanaian people. And I believe that the Ghanaian people have been fleeced and exploited for too long. I wrote back to the NCA on Monday. And directed the NCA in that letter to suspend the broadcasting license of DSTV effective 7th of August 2025 if they fail to effect a reduction in their bundle prices.

“I cannot as minister, serving the Ghanaian people, continue to watch what can best be described as plain stealing happening to the Ghanaian people.”

He made the comments during a ministerial briefing on Friday, August 1, updating the public on key developments in the digital and communication sector for the second quarter of the year.

The standoff comes amid growing public criticism over DSTV’s charges, with many calling for urgent regulatory intervention to ensure affordable access to satellite television services.