'It's not going to work' – Sam George warns DStv over pushback on rate reduction

The Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has accused MultiChoice, the operators of DStv, of attempting to turn his push for a reduction in their prices into a diplomatic issue.

In a recent interview on Joy FM, the minister affirmed his resolve to push for the reduction, which he insists is in the interest of Ghanaian consumers.

“For me, I am focused on ensuring that we get the best value for the Ghanaian people. They should come to the table. Look, all the places they are walking around, getting the foreign minister of South Africa to call the Ghanaian foreign minister to call me — it’s not going to work. Making it a foreign affairs issue and saying that (sic),” he said.

The minister further denied that his actions are fuelled by sentiments against South African businesses and urged MultiChoice to show good faith on the matter.

DStv faces suspension in Ghana on August 7 over pricing

“There are South African businesses; the biggest South African business in Ghana is MTN. Has MTN complained about this? When I dealt with MTN, they worked with me. I made a case. When I told MTN that I wanted more data for the Ghanaian people, they said, ‘Well, we have a challenge with our network; we want more spectrum.’ I yielded, went to the cabinet, got cabinet approval, and gave them more spectrum. So, you work with your regulator in the interest of your customers and your business. You don’t place the interest of your business as the only interest and ignore the interest of your consumers,” he stated.

The minister, through the National Communications Authority (NCA), has recently announced that DStv will have its operating license suspended if it fails to enforce a 30% reduction in its prices by September 7, 2025.

The minister has described DStv’s current subscription pricing as exploitative, referring to it as “plain stealing” from the Ghanaian public.

Can Sam George 'shut down' DStv? - What the law says

Speaking at the Government Accountability Series in Accra on Friday, August 1, 2025, the minister explained that his decision followed the receipt of a nine-page document from DStv justifying its refusal to reduce prices despite the recent strengthening of the Ghanaian cedi.

GA/BAI