Ghana government gives Multichoice August 7 deadline to reduce subscription fees

The Ghana government has given Multichoice, operators of DSTV and GOTV, up to August 7, 2025, to review all its subscription charges to correspond with the improved  economic situation in the country.

According to the government, failure to meet the said date would lead to the suspension of the broadcasting licence of the company in the country.

Mr. Samuel Nartey George, Minister of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, announced this when he took his turn at the Government Accountability Series.

The Minister has over the past weeks being engaging with the operator for a 30 per cent reduction of charges on all its packages for customers in the country.

At the press conference, however, the Minister indicated the unwillingness of Multichoice to heed to the call, citing various reasons including a 240 per cent depreciation of the Ghanaian cedi in the past eight years.

Mr. George said these reasons were unfounded, considering that many African countries who were enjoying lower charges faced similar circumstances within the time frame, adding that Ghana’s economic situation had significantly improved over the past seven months, warranting a fee reduction.

Comparing prices of the various packages between Ghana and some African countries, he noted that prices in Ghana were exorbitant.

For instance, a Compact Plus package in Ghana costs $54.3, while Nigerians pay $19.6, Liberians pay $36, in Angola, it is $27, $43 in Botswana, and $35 and $34 in Eswatini and South Africa, respectively.

For Premium package, Ghanaians pay $82.40, Nigerians are charged $29, Liberians paying $61, Angolans $33, while Botswana, Eswatini and South Africa pay $61, $52, and $51, respectively.

“You go to compact, Ghanaians are paying $36.20, Nigerians are paying $12.40, Liberia – $23, Angola – $18, Botswana – $33, Eswatini – $27, South Africa – $25.

“You go to family, Ghanaians are paying $18.10, Nigerians are paying $4.80, Liberia is paying $13, Angola is paying $11, Botswana is paying $21, Eswatini is paying $19, and South Africa is paying $18 as well,” he added.

Mr. George said the disparity in the charges were unfair and amounted to “fleecing” of the Ghanaian.

“Clearly, Ghana is way so high, there is no justification, it’s the same content, the same old movies that are being shown. So there is no justification for Ghana being almost 30 per cent more expensive,” he said.

The Minister said as a regulator of the sector the Ministry through the National Communications Authority (NCA) would do everything within the law to protect the Ghanaian consumer from unfair fees and charges from foreign-owned companies.

He added that should Multichoice fail to heed to the 30 per cent reduction directive by August 7, the NCA would suspend the broadcasting licence of the company.

“I am not threatening Multichoice and I’m not hounding them out. We’re simply protecting the Ghanaian people,” he said.

Source: GNA

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