Ghana’s government has issued a firm ultimatum to MultiChoice, the company behind DSTV and GOTV, demanding a major reduction in subscription costs by August 7, 2025—or risk having its broadcasting licence suspended in the country.
This directive was made public by the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, during a recent Government Accountability Series briefing. The minister explained that for weeks, his office has been pushing MultiChoice to slash prices by 30% across all their packages in Ghana, citing recent improvements in the nation’s economic outlook.
Despite those engagements, MultiChoice has reportedly declined to implement the proposed price adjustments. The company is said to have blamed its pricing on a dramatic decline in the Ghanaian cedi over the past eight years—estimated at around 240%.
Minister George, however, dismissed that justification, arguing that other African nations grappling with similar economic pressures enjoy significantly lower DSTV fees. He presented a side-by-side comparison of package costs across several countries to back his claim.
For example, while Ghanaians are charged $54.30 for the Compact Plus plan, Nigerians pay $19.60, and customers in Liberia and Angola are billed $36 and $27 respectively. Premium subscribers in Ghana pay $82.40, compared to $29 in Nigeria and $33 in Angola. Even the basic Family package costs $18.10 in Ghana, while the same service is priced at only $4.80 in Nigeria and $11 in Angola.
George described these disparities as unacceptable, asserting that Ghanaian viewers are being overcharged for content that is largely the same across regions, often consisting of reruns and old programming.
He assured the public that the Ministry, through the National Communications Authority (NCA), will enforce regulations that prioritize consumer protection. If MultiChoice refuses to implement the 30% price cut by the set deadline, the NCA will act by suspending the company’s broadcasting rights.
Emphasizing the seriousness of the situation, the minister clarified that the goal isn’t to drive the company out but to ensure fairness for Ghanaian consumers who, according to him, have been subjected to unjust pricing for far too long.
