Ghana threatens to revoke the DSTV license due to the high cost of subscriptions

The government of Ghana has instructed satellite broadcaster DStv to reduce subscription prices by Thursday, or it will face the suspension of its broadcasting licence, according to the Communications Minister.

Samuel Nartey George stated that he has directed the National Communications Authority to initiate suspension proceedings against MultiChoice Ghana, the local operator of DStv, should it not meet regulatory expectations for a price reduction by August 7.

I have instructed the NCA to take prompt action. “If DStv has not complied by the 7th of August, their broadcasting licence will be suspended,” George stated.

The disagreement emerged following DStv’s refusal of a government suggestion to lower subscription fees by 30%. George criticized the company for citing the cedi’s depreciation of over 200% in eight years as a rationale for elevated prices, deeming the explanation insufficient in light of Ghana’s economic difficulties.

I am committed to the Ghanaian people. “For years, they have been deceived, and it is time we put a stop to that,” George stated.

MultiChoice Ghana, part of South Africa’s MultiChoice Group, rejected the government’s request as “not tenable” in a statement on Sunday, highlighting economic conditions and the necessity to uphold service quality.

Managing Director Alex Okyere cautioned that enforced price reductions might jeopardize employment and limit customer options, noting that the company had presented alternative proposals to the minister and the NCA.

George, in his response on X, dismissed those proposals and raised questions about why MultiChoice adhered to a court order to halt price increases in Nigeria, yet not in Ghana.

DStv proposed to keep the current pricing while stopping revenue remittances to headquarters, a suggestion that George deemed illogical.