{"id":89460,"date":"2025-08-12T14:08:54","date_gmt":"2025-08-12T14:08:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=89460"},"modified":"2025-08-12T14:08:54","modified_gmt":"2025-08-12T14:08:54","slug":"sam-george-alleges-covert-moves-by-multichoice-ghana-to-evade-a-30-dstv-price-cut","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=89460","title":{"rendered":"Sam George alleges covert moves by MultiChoice Ghana to evade a 30% DSTv price cut"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \t<\/i> Read Time:<\/span>5 Minute, 48 Second <\/div>\n\n <\/div>
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Minister of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel George, has revealed that MultiChoice Ghana, the operators of DStv, is involved in intense behind-the-scenes lobbying to pressure him into reversing his directive for a significant price reduction.<\/p>\n

The minister\u2019s firm stance threatens the company\u2019s broadcasting licence, which could be revoked if they fail to comply with the government\u2019s demand.<\/p>\n

The ultimatum, which requires DStv, with its headquarters in South Africa, to reduce its subscription rates by 30 per cent, was initially set for August 7 but was later extended to September 6, 2025. <\/p>\n

The directive follows widespread public outcry and a government investigation into DStv\u2019s pricing model, which the minister has repeatedly described as unfair to Ghanaian consumers.<\/p>\n

Speaking on the Joy FM Super Morning Show<\/strong><\/em>, Mr George disclosed that since his public warning, several intermediaries believed to be connected to DStv have approached members of government, attempting to soften his position. <\/p>\n

He revealed attempts by MultiChoice to rope in the South African government to turn the matter into a foreign affairs issue. <\/p>\n

The minister, however, remains unwavering, insisting that the government\u2019s primary responsibility is to protect the interests of its citizens.<\/p>\n

\u201cLook, all the places they are walking around getting the foreign minister of South Africa to call the Ghanaian foreign minister to call me. It\u2019s not going to work\u2026.Look, making it a foreign affairs issue and saying that what? There are South African businesses. The biggest South African business in Ghana is MTN. Has MTN complained about this? When I dealt with MTN, MTN worked with me on everything,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n

He continued, \u201cWhen I made the case to MTN, I wanted more data for the Ghanaian people. They said, \u2018Well, we have a challenge with the network. We want more spectrum\u2019. I yielded. I went to the cabinet and got cabinet approval and gave them more spectrum.\u201d<\/p>\n

The minister offered advice to businesses operating in Ghana.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, you work with your regulator in the interest of your customers and in the interest of your business. You don\u2019t place your business interest as the only interest you have and ignore completely the consumer interest.\u201d<\/p>\n

The minister cited stark price disparities, noting that Ghanaians pay significantly more for the same premium packages offered in other African markets like Nigeria, even when accounting for currency fluctuations.<\/p>\n

A pattern of disrespect and bad faith<\/strong><\/p>\n

The minister painted a picture of a company unwilling to engage in good faith, citing several instances of what he termed \u201cdisrespect\u201d.<\/p>\n

He revealed that after he presented his case, MultiChoice responded not with a counter-offer but with a nine-page letter filled with economic forecasts.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey wrote me a nine-page letter with six graphs and bar charts explaining to me the instability of Ghana\u2019s economy and how our cedi appreciation cannot be trusted to be sustainable,\u201d he recounted with disbelief.<\/p>\n

Operational failures and revenue leakage<\/strong><\/p>\n

Beyond pricing, Mr. George highlighted critical operational failures, chief among them being cross-border piracy.<\/p>\n

He claimed that a staggering \u201c40 to 45% of DStv devices in Ghana today are all devices from Nigeria\u201d, a situation he says MultiChoice has failed to tackle.<\/p>\n