Ghana’s Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has issued a stern ultimatum to MultiChoice-owned DSTV.
The warning comes after DSTV declined to adjust its pricing structure despite recent appreciable gains made by the Ghanaian cedi against the dollar, a shift many believe should trigger cost reductions for consumers.
Addressing the media at a ministerial briefing on Friday, August 1, Mr George revealed that the decision to act followed a high-level meeting on July 4 between the government and DSTV officials, which failed to yield an agreement.
“I cannot, as minister serving the Ghanaian people, continue to watch what can best be described as plain stealing happening to the Ghanaian people,” he said.
According to the minister, DSTV responded to his request for a price review with a detailed nine-page letter, justifying its position by pointing to a historic 240% depreciation of the cedi over the past eight years. The broadcaster claimed that the cedi’s recent recovery was merely temporary and “unsustainable,” and thus not a sufficient basis for lowering prices.
But Mr George dismissed the response, asserting that Ghanaians have been “fleeced and exploited for too long.”
“My fidelity is to the Ghanaian people. I believe they deserve better. I have directed the National Communications Authority (NCA) to suspend DSTV’s broadcasting license effective August 7, 2025, if they do not comply,” he said firmly.
The minister’s directive has sparked renewed debate across the country about fair pricing and foreign media influence in Ghana. Social media users have overwhelmingly supported the move, calling for broader reforms in the pay-TV sector.
As the August 7 deadline approaches, DSTV’s next move and the government’s responsewill be closely watched by millions of Ghanaian households who rely on the service for news, sports, and entertainment.
