Minority demands fair DStv pricing, pushes for parliamentary action

The Minority Caucus has stepped into the DSTV pricing debate with a call for fairness and diplomacy. They are backing public concerns and urging a diplomatic approach to address the issue.

In a statement issued on Sunday, August 3, and signed by Kpandai MP, Matthew Nyindam, the Minority caucus expressed strong support for Ghanaians demanding fairer pricing from MultiChoice Ghana, the operators of DSTV.

Their intervention comes in response to recent tensions between the company and the Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Samuel Nartey George, over subscription pricing. The Minister had earlier rejected a proposal by MultiChoice Ghana to maintain its current rates, describing the company’s stance as “illogical” and out of touch with Ghana’s economic conditions.

This followed a release from MultiChoice Ghana on the same day, signed by Managing Director Alex Okyere, in which the company argued that reducing subscription costs was not feasible under current market conditions.

The Minority has urged all parties to de-escalate the back-and-forth media confrontation and instead adopt a more constructive and lawful path to resolving the impasse.

“We are therefore calling for a seizure of the media war. These matters must be settled diplomatically,” the statement said, urging all sides to prioritise dialogue over public clashes.

According to the caucus, many Ghanaians have long voiced frustrations about DSTV’s high subscription fees, especially in comparison with neighbouring countries. The Minority believes those grievances are valid and must be addressed with urgency.

“We fully support the advocacy initiated by patriotic citizens, which has now attracted the attention of the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation. We agree that subscription fees must be set fairly and reflect the realities of Ghana’s economy,” the statement added.

While commending the Ministry’s efforts to protect consumers, the Minority emphasized that any solution must be grounded in legality, fairness, and constructive engagement—not media hostility.

To help address the situation, the Minority has written to the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Information and Communications. It is requesting that both the Minister and officials from MultiChoice Ghana be summoned before the Committee to provide clarity and explore viable solutions.

The Minority maintains that such a move will promote transparency and help achieve lasting relief for consumers while preserving investor confidence in the country’s media and digital services sector.

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Reaffirming its position, the caucus pledged to stand with Ghanaians in demanding accountability and fairness in the pricing of pay-TV services.