Gov’t Slaps Dstv With ₵10K Fine

The Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has announced that DStv Ghana will face a daily fine of GHS10,000 for failing to submit details of its pricing models to the National Communications Authority (NCA) within the stipulated time.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, August 14, the Minister revealed that the NCA had initially requested the information on August 4, with a deadline of August 5. DStv Ghana later asked for an extension to August 11. However, as of the Minister’s meeting with the company’s management yesterday, the information had still not been provided.

Under the Electronic Communications Act, failure to provide requested information to the regulator attracts a daily fine of GHS10,000. According to the Minister, he initially waived the fine from August 5 until August 14 “in good faith” to allow the company more time to comply.

“With their continued non-compliance, the NCA will now impose the GHS10,000 daily fine from August 14 until the requested pricing model details are submitted,” Mr. George stated.

Critics, however, say the move risks being seen as another example of the government’s combative stance toward private companies, raising questions about whether such public battles are more about flexing regulatory muscle than addressing the broader affordability concerns of consumers.

While the Minister insists the action is about securing “the best deal for the Ghanaian people,” the timing and tone of the intervention have left some wondering whether the government is more interested in headline fines than in delivering lasting relief to households already under economic strain.

Source: GhanaFeed.Com