Appiah Kusi Adomako, the West African Regional Director of CUTS International, has said the lack of competition law is fuelling DSTV’s exploitation of Ghanaian customers.
He asserted that the government must urgently pass a national competition law to tackle monopoly.
According to Appiah Kusi Adomako, the lack of competitors has allowed the operators of DSTV MultiChoice to operate without effective regulatory checks at the disadvantage of Ghanaian consumers.
Speaking to this in an interview on Citi Eyewitness News, Adomako stated, “As a country, if we want to reduce such a dominant monopoly, I think that we need to come up with a competition law. By competition law, I am sure we will be able to address most of these issues.”
He lamented, “Of course, we have had this draft bill hanging over the Ministry of Trade for the past 18 years, and it’s never gone to Parliament. We hope that once Ghana is able to put it before Parliament, we can get some of these things destroyed.”
His comments come on the heels of Sam Nartey George, the Minister of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, who has told DSTV that the mistreatment of the Ghanaian consumer is enough.
Sam George compared the prices of DSTV subscription packages between Ghana and other African countries like Nigeria, South Africa, and others.
He noted that Ghana’s Premium bouquet sells for the equivalent of US$83 while as same bouquet in Nigeria sells for US$29.
According to Sam George, DSTV price disparity cannot be explained by anyone.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Friday, August 1, Sam George detailed, “The Premium bouquet sells for the equivalent of US$83 here in Ghana, whilst the same bouquet in Nigeria sells for US$29. How can anyone explain this price disparity? Enough of the mistreatment of the Ghanaian consumer.
For the premium package, Ghanaians are asked to pay $82.40 cents, Nigerians $29, Liberians $61, Angolans $33, Botswana [Botswana] $61, Eswatini [Swat] $52, South Africans $51. Clearly, Ghana is way too high; there’s no justification, it’s the same content, the same old movies that are being shown”.
“For the Compact price, Ghanians are paying $54.3, Nigerians $19.6, Liberians $36, Angolans $27, Botswana [Batswana] $43, Eswatini [Swat] $35, South Africans $34. Again, you see the clear disparity.
“For Family [price] Ghanaians are paying $18.10 cent, Nigerians $4.80 cent, Liberians $13, Angolans $11, Botswana [Batswana] $21, Eswatini [Swat] $19, and South Africans $18. For Access, Ghanaians are paying $9.45 cent, Nigerians $2.70, Liberians $8, Angolans $6, Botswana $10, Eswatini [Swat] $9 and South Africans $7.60.”
In addition, Samuel Nartey George also revealed MultiChoice-owned DSTV broadcast license will be suspended if they fail to reduce prices downward.
According to Sam George, his directive follows DSTV’s refusal to reduce its prices after the recent cedi appreciation.
He revealed MultiChoice broadcast license will be suspended by the National Communications Authority (NCA) if they fail to reduce subscription prices by August 7, 2025.
Speaking during the Government ministerial briefing on Friday, August 1, Sam George stated, “In my capacity as Minister, my fidelity is to the Ghanaian people. I have written to the NCA, instructing them to suspend DSTV’s broadcasting licence effective August 7 if they do not comply,” Mr George stated.
Sam George had earlier pledged to Ghanaians, vowing to secure a reduction in DSTV subscription prices.
However, following the meeting, DSTV has failed to reduce its prices.
Sam George revealed, DSTV, in its response, emphasised that the cedi had depreciated by over 200% over the last eight years, and the recent gains were not justifiable for a price reduction.
He added, “DSTV claims the Ghanaian Cedi has depreciated by over 200% in the last eight years, and therefore, they cannot reduce their prices. My fidelity lies with the Ghanaian people. They have been cheated for years, and it is time we put an end to that.
We will not allow foreign service providers to take advantage of our citizens under the guise of economic pressures”, he boldly asserted.