MultiChoice Ghana has pushed back against claims that it has agreed to slash subscription fees, clarifying that no decision on price reductions has been made.
In a press release issued on Friday, the pay-TV operator stated it had “not agreed to a price reduction”, contrary to public remarks made by the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George.
“We continue to engage with the minister in a bid to find an amicable solution that is beneficial for all parties involved but does not jeopardise the viability of the DStv service,” the statement read. “We will fully participate in the established Working Committee. However, we wish to clarify that MultiChoice Group has not agreed to a price reduction.”
The clarification follows the minister’s announcement earlier in the day that MultiChoice had “finally bowed to regulatory pressure and accepted the need for subscription cuts”.
Also Read: MultiChoice agrees to reduce DSTV fees, pricing committee established – Sam George
Sam George told journalists that a special pricing review committee, to be chaired by him, had been tasked to determine the level of reduction by September 21, 2025.
The committee includes representatives from the Ministry, the National Communications Authority (NCA), MultiChoice Ghana, and MultiChoice Africa.
According to Sam George, the company had requested 30 days for the committee to complete its work, but the ministry was insisting on a 14-day deadline.
The dispute comes after weeks of regulatory pressure, with the government demanding a 30% price cut by September 6 or facing suspension of MultiChoice’s broadcasting licence. The operator was also slapped with daily fines of GH₵10,000 for non-compliance, which the minister said had already accumulated to about GH₵150,000 over 24 days.
The government’s push was bolstered by MultiChoice’s recent submission of comprehensive pricing data, including bouquet breakdowns, tax components, and comparisons with at least six African countries. Officials said the data was critical for evidence-based discussions on subscription costs.
Mr George, in defending the government’s firm stance, insisted that “for the first time, MultiChoice has acknowledged that prices must come down.”
While consumers await clarity, MultiChoice has maintained that protecting service sustainability remains its priority. The company says it will continue engaging the government in the hope of achieving “a fair and workable outcome”.
This is the second time MultiChoice has denied claims by the minister since this impasse started. In the first instance, the minister claimed MultiChoice had described the rise of the cedi against the dollar as a “fluke”, but MultiChoice completely denied that claim, saying that in their scripted response to an earlier request by the minister, they never used that word. In fact, the described the minister’s stance as “regrettable”.
