- NPP Deputy Communications Director Kamal-Deen Abdulai criticized Sam George’s handling of MultiChoice negotiations.
- He argued that the minister’s confrontational style undermined Ghana’s bargaining power.
- Abdulai said engaging the public would have been a stronger strategy.
- He stressed that more TV channels do not equal reduced costs for subscribers.
- The government had hailed the deal as a major concession from MultiChoice.
Deputy National Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kamal-Deen Abdulai, has expressed strong disapproval of the approach taken by Minister of Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, in negotiations with MultiChoice Africa.
The controversy follows the minister’s announcement that MultiChoice had made what he described as a historic concession, promising Ghanaian subscribers improved value and expanded services.
While government celebrated the outcome as a win for consumers, critics like Abdulai believe the method used to achieve it was counterproductive.
According to him, the confrontational style adopted by the minister may have weakened Ghana’s leverage, as major investors typically rely on legal, tax, and market expertise rather than public threats when addressing disputes.
He argued that a more effective strategy would have been to mobilize the public to directly influence MultiChoice, which could have created stronger pressure for meaningful concessions such as price reductions.
Abdulai further suggested that while additional channels might be a benefit, it does not automatically translate into financial relief for subscribers.
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He insisted that government’s handling of the matter left important opportunities on the table, particularly in rallying consumer advocacy to drive change in the pay-TV sector.
