Manasseh Azure Awuni, an investigative journalist, has joined the ongoing saga between the Communication Ministry, the National Communications Authority (NCA), and MultiChoice Ghana.
According to Manasseh Azure, MultiChoice Ghana had never opposed participating in the stakeholder committee set up to evaluate DSTV pricing.
The investigative journalist has accused the NCA of apparent dishonesty and shifting of position.
In a Facebook post, Manasseh wrote, “If the government negotiates a price reduction for Ghanaian subscribers of DSTV, I will be happy about the outcome. I stopped using DSTV because of the price increment, so I’m not against a price reduction.
However, we may have to detach our emotions from issues of this nature and discuss the issues dispassionately, as some border on good governance practices. That is why one has to be worried about the apparent dishonesty and shifting of position in the NCA’s statement.
Let’s consider point one, which is the substance of the statement. Did Multichoice ever disagree to participate in the stakeholder committee?”.
He added, “The company said in the 5th September press statement that it “would fully participate in the established working committee” in the discussions to resolve the impasse.
The company then proceeded to deny the minister’s claim that it had agreed to reduce its prices. This infuriated the minister, Sam George.
The Minister shared Multichoice’s press release on social media and said that he had run out of patience with the company and threatened to shut down DSTV the following day, yesterday, if the company would not discuss a price reduction”.
Manasseh Azure cited Sam George’s statement in reaction to Multichoice’s denial of agreeing to a price reduction as erroneous.
The investigative journalist further went on to punch holes in Sam George’s statement, saying, “In fact, this statement was erroneous, judging from his announcement of ‘price reduction’ and the content of the Multichoice press statement he shared.
He had said the company had agreed to reduce prices. The company said it was not true. One would have expected him to call out the company for assuring him on the price reduction and later releasing a press statement to deny it.
Manasseh noted that Sam George did not refute the company’s press statement.
He added that Multichoice has not changed its position since the September 5th press release and still stands by its denial of the minister’s claim, and still wants the committee’s engagement to proceed as the company had said.
Mr Awuni asserted that the Minister has not carried out his threat to shut down DSTV.
“Your statement should have been forthright. You should have told us something different. Why the threat to shut down DSTV has not happened, since, from what you have shared, no further concession has come from Multichoice.
The NCA and the Ministry may have evaluated their position and decided to continue with the committee’s engagement, which Multichoice had clearly indicated its willingness to engage. That admission would not be a weakness. Changing course to get a better result is a strength. And the NCA statement should have honestly admitted that”, Manasseh detailed.
Manasseh’s comment comes following the National Communications Authority (NCA) confirming that MultiChoice Ghana has agreed to the directive from the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations to establish a Stakeholder Committee that will evaluate DSTV pricing in Ghana.
The NCA statement read, “MultiChoice Ghana has agreed to the directive from the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations to establish a Stakeholder Committee that will evaluate DSTV pricing in Ghana. The company has also committed to fully participating in this process.”
Meanwhile, Sam George had earlier replied to MultiChoice Ghana, operators of DStv, after they refuted claims that they had agreed to reduce their subscription prices.
According to Sam George, he has no intention to tolerate the disrespect from DStv to Ghanaians.
The sector minister revealed, the National Communication Authority (NCA) will proceed to shut down DSTV operations tomorrow, September 6, 2025.
In a statement released, MultiChoice Ghana stated, “We have noted the statement made by the Minister for Communications Technology and Innovation, Hon. 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 DSty service.
We will fully participate in the established Working Committee. However, we wish to clarify that MultiChoice Group has not agreed to a price reduction”.
In a post on X in reaction to MultiChoice’s statement, Sam George wrote, “Let me be clear, I have no intention to continue tolerating the disrespect to Ghanaians by DStv.
If MultiChoice is not interested, as they claim in their last statement, in discussing a reduction in prices as they had indicated to me, we would proceed to effect the shutdown tomorrow as indicated.
DStv indicated their willingness to engage the Ministry on its concerns on pricing and prayed us to stay our enforcement action. If they have changed their position, then we simply would enforce the regulatory action”.
He added, “No company is above the law. When MultiChoice is ready to discuss price reduction, they can come to the negotiation table. Until then, there is nothing for us to meet over. The @NCAGhana would carry out enforcement.
Ghana is open for businesses that respect our laws and institutions”.
Additionally, the CEO of the Consumer Protection Agency, Kofi Kapito, has urged Ghanaians to boycott Multichoice DSTV and GOTV services.
According to Kofi Kapito, Ghanaians must boycott DSTV and GOTV by switching them off in protest against rising subscription costs.
He confidently emphasised that Multichoice’s exploitation of Ghanaians is enough.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, Kofi Kapito stated, “We can send them a strong message by just showing our displeasure by switching our subscriptions off to let them know that if they don’t reduce it, we will keep disconnecting our subscriptions”.
“We, the consumers who subscribe to their business, are telling them that enough is enough,” he said.
Kofi Kapito added, “They need to listen to the consumer, the subscriber, who makes them money. Just like in any business, if you are selling and I keep telling you that the cost of your product is too high and you don’t listen, if I stop buying from you, eventually your business might fold up. There is some power afforded a consumer to use to let a business understand that they are unhappy with their services”.
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