Accra, Ghana – Ghana is taking a bold stand against rising digital service costs, with Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Hon. Samuel Nartey George, issuing a deadline to DSTV to cut subscription prices or risk losing its broadcasting licence. The move, set to take effect by August 7, could mark a turning point in how African governments respond to disparities in regional pricing by multinational providers.
Speaking to journalists in Accra, the Minister criticised DSTV’s pricing model as exploitative, noting that Ghanaians pay nearly three times more for the same content compared to subscribers in Nigeria.
The Minister said the National Communications Authority (NCA) has been instructed to begin licence suspension proceedings if DSTV fails to comply with the pricing directive. He described DSTV’s pricing model in Ghana as “plain stealing,” citing the wide gap between what Ghanaian subscribers pay compared to their Nigerian counterparts.
“The same premium package that costs Ghanaians the equivalent of US$83 is offered to Nigerians at just US$29,” Sam George stated.
The call for price reduction follows a meeting held with DSTV representatives on July 4, 2025, where the government requested a 30% reduction in subscription fees. However, DSTV responded in a letter dated July 21, rejecting the proposal and describing the recent appreciation of the cedi as a “fluke.”
Sam George, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, insisted that MultiChoice Ghana, operators of DSTV must reflect Ghana’s improving macroeconomic conditions in its pricing.
“The cedi is doing better, and consumers deserve relief. This is about fairness, not just market forces,” he emphasized.
If DSTV fails to act by the deadline, the government has indicated it will move swiftly to suspend its licence, disrupting satellite broadcast services for millions of Ghanaians.