The Minister of Communications, Sam George, has officially announced that MultiChoice Ghana has agreed to lower its subscription rates following sustained regulatory pressure from the government.
This decision comes after MultiChoice finally complied with government demands for detailed pricing information, including bouquet breakdowns, tax analyses, and pricing comparisons with other African countries. This data was deemed essential for transparent negotiations on potential fee adjustments.
With the necessary information now in hand, a pricing review committee has been established to oversee the reduction process. The government has also set up a specialized committee to determine the revised pricing framework, with a deadline of September 21 for finalizing the reduction strategy.
During a recent press conference, Minister George revealed that the pricing revision process is already underway. He stated, “We’ve established a stakeholder committee with representatives from various government departments and MultiChoice to discuss the level of reduction. MultiChoice has requested a 30-day window, but I believe 14 days is sufficient for us to reach a decision.”
Prior to this agreement, the government had issued a strict ultimatum for MultiChoice to implement a 30% price reduction by September 6 or face suspension of its broadcasting license. Daily fines of GHC 10,000 were also imposed for non-compliance, totaling around GHC 150,000 over a 24-day period.
The conflict between MultiChoice Ghana (DSTV) and the government stemmed from public concerns over the high cost of satellite TV services. Citizens had been voicing their dissatisfaction with DSTV’s subscription rates, prompting the government to investigate and demand transparency from the company.
The dispute escalated when the National Communications Authority requested comprehensive pricing data from MultiChoice, leading to tensions and regulatory measures to ensure fair pricing for consumers.
Overall, the government’s efforts to address the affordability of satellite TV services have led to positive developments, with MultiChoice Ghana now committed to reducing subscription rates in response to regulatory intervention.
