Sam George Insists Dstv Drop Charges In Spite of Minority’s Call

Minister for Communications, Samuel Nartey George, says regulatory sanctions against DStv will go ahead if the company fails to reduce its subscription prices by at least 30% by August 7. This follows continued resistance from MultiChoice Ghana to align its pricing with the recent appreciation of the Ghanaian cedi.

In a statement posted on Facebook, the Minister responded to appeals from the Minority in Parliament on the Communications Committee, who have urged a more diplomatic resolution. Mr. George, however, maintained that while he respects the Committee’s oversight role, the Ministry will only brief Parliament after regulatory actions are completed.

“I appreciate the call by the NPP Minority on the Communications Select Committee of Parliament for engagement,” he wrote. “I can assure the Committee as a whole that the Ministry would provide a full update when we complete our regulatory actions on 7th August.”

He explained that the Ministry had taken several steps to engage DStv on the matter, beginning with a meeting with the local management team on June 27, followed by a meeting with officials from the company’s headquarters on July 4, despite it being a national holiday.

During these meetings, Mr. George said he raised two core issues: a 30% reduction in subscription fees and the company’s failure to adequately deal with piracy on its platform. “The policy directive is a last resort action to protect the Ghanaian public from what appears to be a recalcitrant monopoly which has become tone deaf to the cries of their customers,” he said.

The Minister also referenced DStv’s written response, a detailed nine-page letter sent on July 21, which he implied did little to address the Ministry’s concerns.

He insisted the Ministry’s position is driven by fairness and consumer interest, stating, “I have always approached this matter with one goal: a fair price for the Ghanaian people.”

Mr. George concluded by reaffirming that any actions taken would be within the bounds of the Electronic Communications Act (Act 775), and guided by the terms of DStv’s operating licence. He described the move as part of the broader RESET agenda aimed at restoring accountability and consumer protection within the communications sector.

“For God and Country,” he ended.

Source: GhanaFeed.Com