Ghana's delusional communications minister Sam George forced to back off on windmill-chasing demand that MultiChoice lowers prices 30%

Thinus Ferreira

In a humiliating defeat of his own making, Ghana's aggressive and militant communications minister Sam George on Monday was forced to capitulate and back off from his war on MultiChoice and government demand that the pay-TV operator lower prices by 30% or lose its licence.

On Monday in a hastily arranged press conference, Sam George announced that MultiChoice would not be lowering any of its prices in the inflation-riddled West African country and cccc tried to save face by saying that MultiChoice would be adding 30% "value" to its various DStv services.

Sam George's backpedalling on Monday came two months after Sam George in July suddenly publicly started making outrageous demands that MultiChoice needed to lower its prices by 30% in die economically struggling country.

Then, a month later in August Sam Georgev threatened that MultiChoice had 30 days to comply or would have its broadcasting licence in the country revoked.

Although Ghana's goverment that struggles with rampant inflation, a weakened local currency and consumers who are under severe financial pressure claims to be a free-market economy where private companies are allowed to set their own prices, Sam George suddenly slammed MultiChoice management as "arrogant".

Sam George's tirade against MultiChoice came as France's Canal+ was in the process of its corporate takeover of MultiChoice, with Sam George noting that Canal+ management was much ""more positive" than MultiChoice and that he couldn't wait for Canal+'s takeover to be completed so that he could deal with Canal+ execs rather than with MultiChoice.

On Monday in Accra, Sam George, sitting behind a bouquet of microphones, was forced to praise MultiChoice after his spectacular public failure to extract the 30% price reduction he demanded from MultiChoice.

Sam George failed to give any explanation on why he failed to get the 30% reduction in DStv prices he had promised consumers publicly, instead nothing how MultiChoice will now be adding "value" by adding TV channels to bouquets and bumping up subscribers to higher packages.

No DStv Ghana subscribers will be paying less in a dramatic loss for Sam George's windmill chase that further damaged what remains of his credibility and that of his government department.

Now with effusive praise for MultiChoice, Sam George on Monday said DStv subscribers won't be paying less money but get more TV channels from October and that "Effectively, MultiChoice has offered value over and above what we expected of them".

"The committee is of the view that these increased value offers address government concerns. It reduces pressure on Ghanaian households while ensuring the sustainability of the DStv service in Ghana."

Sam George failed to explain how Ghana households under pressure will feel less price pressure without any reduction in DStv fees.

On 7 September Sam George had a meeting with Fulu Badugela, the outgoing MultiChoice Africa boss, who in no uncertain terms told Sam George that MultiChoice will definitely not be lowering any DStv fees in Ghana.

Sam George was told that the reason why MultiChoice Ghana has to constantly increase its fees is because it's a private company and that Ghana's economy is so bad because of the government that price hikes are a function of the weak currency and inflation. 

"I acknowledge the mutual respect and candor throughout the committee's deliberation," Sam George said.

Sam George said the government in a committee with MultiChoice Ghana looked at "cost factors, the macro-economic environment of Ghana, subscription volume trends and considered various options from MultiChoice Africa and arrived at an outcome that will deliver better value to all subscribers in Ghana".

So no Ghana MultiChoice price reduction whatsoever: DStv packages will cost exactly what they have been since the last price hike in April 2025.

ALSO READ: Ghana's government demands MultiChoice drops DStv subscription fees by 30%

ALSO READ: Ghana communication regulator gives MultiChoice Ghana 30 day-notice of revoking licence after it fails to give in to government demand to drop DStv prices by 30%, warns of 'dire implcations' to business

ALSO READ: Ghana slams MultiChoice over price-drop refusal: Alleges pay-TV operator told its South African government to pressure Ghana's government, says incoming owner Canal+ is 'more positive' than MultiChoice

Ghana slams MultiChoice over price-drop refusal: Alleges pay-TV operator told its South African government to pressure Ghana's government, says incoming owner Canal+ is 'more positive' than MultiChoice

by Thinus Ferreira

It's an all out nasty war between Ghana's government and MultiChoice that has refused a price-drop demand by the government, with the country's communication minister now alleging MultiChoice asked the South African government to pressure Ghana's government to back off, and saying new owner Canal+ has a better attitude than MultiChoice executives.

MultiChoice Ghana is at risk of having its DStv broadcasting licence revoked in the political war that Ghana's communications minister has started with the pay-TV operator - demanding a massive price drop for DStv in the West African country struggling with a failing economy, rampant inflation and a very weak local currency.

Ghana's belligerent communication minister Sam George, who demanded that MultiChoice Ghana immediately drops its DStv subscription fees by 30% or face suspension of its broadcasting licence, is keeping up his nasty political attack on the pan-African pay-TV operator.

Sam George, in a radio interview with Joy FM, slammed MultiChoice for allegedly getting South Africa's government to try and put pressure on Ghana's government to back off.

"Look at the places they are walking around, getting the foreign minister of South Africa to call the Ghanaian foreign minister to call me - it's not going to work. Making it a foreign issue," Sam George said.

TVwithThinus asked MultiChoice earlier this week for comment and if it asked the South African government and minister of foreign affairs to intervene and contact Ghana's government. MultiChoice didn't respond to the media query.

Sam George also claims that France's Canal+ that is in the end-phase of its buyout and takeover of MultiChoice, is much better to deal with than MultiChoice and allegedly has a better attitude.

"Canal+ has reached out and I've made it clear to them that if they want to come into Ghana and operate, that is our request. Canal+'s attitude is light years more positive than that of MultiChoice," Sam George said.

MultiChoice was also asked for comment about Sam George alleging that Canal+ is "more positive" than MultiChoice. 

MultiChoice didn't respond to this question seeking comment either.

In a statement, Maxime Saada, Canal+ CEO, said "We are closely monitoring the situation in Ghana. Canal+ has a long Canal+ has a long and successful history of working collaboratively with regulatory bodies across Africa",

"Upon the successful completion of our acquisition of MultiChoice, we look forward to engaging directly with the ministry and all stakeholders to build a future that serves the interests of Ghanaian audiences and the creative industry."

MultiChoice Ghana has until 6 September to respond to the ultimatum of the Ghanaian government, after its Ghana's National Communications Authority (NCA) gave MultiChoice Ghana a 30-day notice that its broadcasting licence is going to be revoked.

ALSO READ: Ghana communication regulator gives MultiChoice Ghana 30 day-notice of revoking licence after it fails to give in to government demand to drop DStv prices by 30%, warns of 'dire implcations' to business

Ghana communication regulator gives MultiChoice Ghana 30 day-notice of revoking licence after it fails to give in to government demand to drop DStv prices by 30%, warns of 'dire implcations' to business

by Thinus Ferreira

Ghana's communications regulator is doing the bidding of the West African country's posturing communications minister and has now given MultiChoice Ghana 30 days notice that it will be revoking its broadcasting licence.

This government-ordered ultimatum comes after the pay-TV operator failed to adhere to the government's unreasonable demand to lower DStv subscription fees by 30% by Thursday 7 August, with MultiChoice Ghana warning of "dire implications" and major job losses if its business shuts down on 7 September.

Ghana's rundown economy - inflicted by Ghana's government failed economic policies and marked by sluggish growth, rampant inflation and a local currency depreciation of over 200% the past 8 years - is making it extremely hard for private businesses like MultiChoice to operate commercially there.

Like in Nigeria, Zambia and other countries, with inflation and ongoing currency depreciation, private companies are forced to raise prices of services and products in order to continue to operate. This is a principle Ghana's government and its ministers don't seem to grasp.

MultiChoice Ghana hiked DStv subscription fees by 15% in April 2025, after an increase in 2024.

Now Ghana's National Communications Authority (NCA) has issued a formal notice to MultiChoice Ghana Ltd. that it will revoke its pay-TV licence in 30 days.

"By this notice, MultiChoice Ghana has 30 days within which the company may present its views, or provide remedial action, and submit a written statement of its objections to the suspension of the authorisation," the NCA told MultiChoice.

Ghana's NCA is acting after Ghana's minister of communications and digital technology, Sam Narty George, went on a public offensive against MultiChoice and in July declared - following two meetings with MultiChoice where no agreements were given - that MultiChoice was going to be lowering DStv prices soon.

But MultiChoice in meetings expressly told Sam George that it isn't possible for MultiChoice Ghana to lower DStv prices, that MultiChoice wasn't going to lower prices, and that MultiChoice as a private company must raise subscription fees due to Ghana's inflation rate weakening currency.

Instead of Ghana's politicians and government fixing the country's economy, Ghana's politicians want companies like MultiChoice to run at a loss and go out of business.

What MultiChoice offered to do was to freeze the existing DStv Ghana subscription fees at existing prices and to stop taking money from Ghana through MultiChoice Ghana and MultiChoice Africa back to MultiChoice in South Africa.

Sam George rejected MultiChoice's offer.

In response to a media query, MultiChoice told TVwithThinus MultiChoice "noted with concern statements made by Samuel George regarding DStv pricing in Ghana".

Alex Okyere, MultiChoice Ghana managing director, says "It is regrettable that Sam George has taken this stance, notwithstanding our ongoing endeavours to engage with him candidly and in good faith on this important matter".

"Having operated in Ghana for 30-plus years, we value our employees, contract staff, dealers, installers, agents, and retailers in Ghana."

"We are mindful of the dire implications that an impasse may have on you and your livelihoods," Alex Okyere said.

"MultiChoice values its subscribers and endeavours at all times to keep DStv subscription fees as low as possible, despite the extremely challenging competitive and macro-economic environment in which we operate.

Alex Okyere said "It is not tenable to reduce the DStv subscription fees in the manner proposed by Sam George, noting that MultiChoice "remains committed to constructive engagement with Sam George and to complying with all applicable laws and regulations in Ghana and trusts that the authorities will do likewise".

ALSO READ: Ghana's government demands MultiChoice drops DStv subscription fees by 30%

ALSO READ: Upset Ghana government summons MultiChoice for explanation over high DStv subscription fees

MultiChoice Ghana hikes DStv prices from April by over 15%, short notice period slammed by consumer group

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice Ghana will hike prices by up to over 18% in the West African country from April 2025, with the latest DStv Ghana and GOtv Ghana price increases coming after two MultiChoice price increases in 2024.

In Ghana, MultiChoice is hiking DStv Premium 15.3% from GH₵750 to GH₵865, DStv Compact Plus by 15.1% from GH₵495 to GH₵570, hiking DStv Compact by 15.1% from GH₵330 to GH₵380, and increasing DStv Family by 15.1% from GH₵165 to GH₵190.

DStv Access is increased 16.4% from GH₵85 to GH₵99, while DStv Lite is increased 18% from GH₵50 to GH₵59.

The French Plus add-on is increased 14.9% from GH₵435 to GH₵500.

MultiChoice Africa, as well as MultiChoice South Africa have announced drastic price hikes across the continent in various countries from April, with some countries seeing price hikes of over 18% like MultiChoice Zambia, and over 22% by MultiChoice Nigeria as well as MultiChoice Malawi.

CUTS International in Ghana, a local consumer group, has slammed MultiChoice Ghana's sudden price increase announcement with less than a week before DStv subscribers in the country will have to pay more.

"This short notice period may not have given subscribers adequate time to review their options or make necessary adjustments," says Appiah Kusi Adomako, West African regional director of CUTS International. 

"Respect for consumers is fundamental in any market, particularly where services are paid for in advance and on a recurring basis. Providing timely and transparent communication around price changes is not only fair and reasonable but also helps to build trust and foster good customer relationships."

"In markets where competition is limited, there is a greater risk of practices that may be perceived as exploitative or unfair," Appiah Kusi Adomako says.

"Consumers should be given sufficient time to adjust to changes that affect their financial commitments."

MultiChoice Ghana hikes DStv fees by up to over 18% from August for a second time in 2023.

by Thinus Ferreira

After hiking DStv prices by up to 19% in February this year, MultiChoice Ghana has once again announced that DStv fees in the West African country will be increased from August 2023 by up to another 18%, blaming Ghana's runaway inflation rate.

The August DStv price hike will be the second price increase in Ghana within months, and the second price hike within the same year - similar to what has been done by MultiChoice Kenya in East Africa.

So far MultiChoice South Africa increased prices in 2023 in South Africa while MultiChoice Africa hiked prices in countries ranging from Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia, from July in Tanzania and for a shocking second time in Kenya within months.

MultiChoice Ghana is hiking DStv Premium from 1 August 2023 by 16.5% from GH₵515 to GH₵600.

MultiChoice Ghana is also hiking DStv Compact Plus by 16.9% from GH₵325 to GH₵380, increasing DStv Compact by 15.9% from GH₵220 to GH₵255 and increasing DStv Family by 18.1% from GH₵110 to GH₵130.

MultiChoice Ghana is hiking DStv Access by 16.6% from GH₵60 to GH₵70.

Nii Armah Dagadu, MultiChoice Ghana corporate affairs manager, says the DStv price hikes are due to Ghana's inflation and the instability of Ghana's currency.

"The stability of our currency is quite an issue but remember that this particular increase is heavily driven by the cost of inflation." 

ALSO READ: PRICE HIKE. MultiChoice Ghana hiked fees by 19% in 2023, blames country's deteriorating economy as well as currency devaluation and fuel costs. 

PRICE HIKE. MultiChoice Ghana hiked fees by 19% in 2023, blames country's deteriorating economy as well as currency devaluation and fuel costs.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice Ghana has hiked subscription fees by a whopping 19% in February 2023, less than a year after last raising prices from April 2022, blaming Ghana's deteriorating economy marked by a dramatic currency devaluation and massive spike in fuel prices.

MultiChoice Ghana managing director Alex Okyere, said the pay-TV operator's price hike in the West African country, which it said was an "average 19% increase" from February 2023, "is significantly below what is required to cover the increase in our cost of operations with inflation currently at 54.1%".

MultiChoice has hiked prices in 2023 in countries like South Africa, Kenya, Uganda and from May also in Nigeria.

In addition to blaming Ghana's deteriorating economy for the forced price hike of an average of 19%, MultiChoice Ghana blames the country's deteriorating currency, and fuel prices as well.

"A significant portion of our content and satellite costs are sourced internationally and paid for in foreign currencies. In April 2022 when we last adjusted prices, the Ghana/US dollar rate was 7.54, versus the current rate of 12.39."

"Since our last increase, fuel prices have increased by 58.8% and electricity tariffs have increased by 65.24%. Our digital terrestrial television (DTT) service runs from 14 cell sites that significantly use electricity and fuel to power the various equipment needed to broadcast our content," MultiChoice Ghana said.  

ALSO READ: PRICE HIKE. MultiChoice Nigeria hikes DStv prices again from May 2023 by up to 22.2% with cheapest GOtv bouquet seeing biggest price hike.

ALSO READ: SHOCKER. MultiChoice Kenya does second DStv price hike of up to 10% from April 2023 just 7 months after last fee increase, angry subscribers say they're cancelling and going to streaming.

ALSO READ: Six months after its last increase MultiChoice Uganda does another DStv price hike from April 2023 up to 10.25% as outraged subscribers slam pay-TV operator for 'garbage' content that's 'repeated and super old' .

ALSO READ: MultiChoice: Here is the pay-TV company's DStv pricing from April 2023 for South Africa.

With $1 million investment the past year MultiChoice Ghana and M-Net West Africa mark first anniversary of Akwaaba Magic channel on DStv that created 5 000 jobs in Ghana's TV and film biz.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice's regionalised DStv Ghana and M-Net West Africa celebrated the first year anniversary of their Akwaaba Magic channel on DStv on 1 May with MultiChoice and M-Net working on boosting the development of Ghana's local film and TV industry.

Over the past year, MultiChoice and M-Net invested in ramping up specific Ghanaian local productions, using Ghanaian crews, ranging from Inside Out and Ghana's first telenovela Dede currently in its second season, to the crime drama series Inspector Bediako, Ghana's first medical drama series Accra Medic and reality shows like Sankofa and Date My Family Ghana. 

MultiChoice's video streaming service, Showmax, recently commissioned the first Ghanaian Showmax Original, ENO.

Filming in places like Ada, Asosombo, Takoradi, Kumasi and Aburi, the creation of Akwaaba Magic has created over 5 000 direct and indirect jobs in Ghana's film and TV industry over the past year since the channel launched in March 2021.

The one year anniversary media event of Akwaaba Magic that took place on Sunday comes as MultiChoice and M-Net West Africa added Akwaaba Magic Abusua as a new TV channel on DStv as a lower-tiered rerun channel to make the content produced for the channel available to DStv subscribers on lower DStv and GOtv packages after a premium-tier run.

On Sunday 1 May DStv Ghana and M-Net West Africa marked the one year anniversary of Akwaaba Magic with a media event that was held in the country.

With up to 20 productions running concurrently and over 300 jobs created for writers, camera operators, lighting technicians, directors, production managers and editors, Akwaaba Magic channel head Kennedy Dankyi-Appah, said that M-Net created the channel to help support Ghana's film and TV industry both in funding and content distribution.

"Our fulfilment lies in the awareness the channel has brought to Ghanaian content in general - we love our own especially when it's produced well."

Alex Okyere, MultiChoice Ghana managing director, said at the event that a year later the Akwaaba Magic channel has re-ignited the interest in authentic Ghanaian storytelling, with MultiChoice and M-Net that have made an investment in the sector of over $1 million in the past year.

He said that the availability of the Akwaaba Magic channel on the MultiChoice's Showmax streaming service extends the audience for Ghanaian content to a much wider audience.

Busola Tejumola, MultiChoice's head of content and channels for West Africa, at the event noted that MultiChoice had set a high target for Akwaaba Magic content.

Richard Darko, MultiChoice Ghana chairperson, said Akwaaba Magic is part of MultiChoice's strategy of launching local channels in various African countries that are relevant to the developmental needs in these specific countries.

He said that MultiChoice will continue to support Ghana's film and TV industry with the Akwaaba Magic and Akwaaba Magic Abusua channels as well as on Showmax, to "project the rich, authentic and diverse stories from Ghana to the world".

ALSO READ: MultiChoice and M-Net West Africa to launch lower-tiered Akwaaba Magic Abusua TV channel on 2 May on DStv and GOtv in Ghana, shows will include South Africa's Gomora dubbed with Ghanaian voices.

PRICE HIKE. MultiChoice Ghana increases DStv Ghana and GOtv Ghana subscription fees by up to over 6% from September 2021.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice Ghana is also hiking monthly DStv Ghana and GOtv Ghana subscription fees from 1 September, with the latest increase in 2021 coming just 6 months after the pay-TV operator's last price hike earlier this year.

MultiChoice Ghana gave no reasons to its customers or the media for its latest price hike.

MultiChoice Ghana is hiking its DStv Ghana and GOtv Ghana subscription fees similar to MultiChoice Uganda, as well as MultiChoice Kenya, and also MultiChoice Tanzania.

MultiChoice Ghana implemented a DStv price hike just 6 months ago from April 2021, angering DStv subscribers in the West African country.

MultiChoice Ghana is hiking the price of DStv Premium in Ghana from September by 5.6% from GHS369 (R913) per month to GHS390 (R965) per month.

MultiChoice Ghana is increasing the monthly price of DStv Compact Plus by 5.26% from GHS228 to GHS240, while DStv Compact is increasing 5.2% from September from GHS152 to GHS160. 

DStv Family is increasing 4.65% from GHS86 to GHS90, and DStv Access is increasing 6.12% from GHS49 to GHS52. 

GOtv Max in Ghana is increasing 5.26% from GHS76 to GHS80.

ALSO READ: PRICE HIKE. MultiChoice Kenya increases subscription fees by up to over 8% from September 2021.

ALSO READ: PRICE HIKE. MultiChoice Uganda increases subscription fees by 6% from September 2021.

ALSO READ: PRICE HIKE. MultiChoice Tanzania increases subscription fees by up to 4.5% from September 2021, doesn't provide any reason.

MultiChoice Ghana doing a 'price freeze' on DStv and GOtv subscription fees as the latest African country outside of South Africa that won't be hiking monthly fees from April.

MultiChoice Ghana is doing a "price freeze" on the subscription fees for DStv subscribes and GOtv subscribers in Ghana with subscription fees that is being lowered for commercial DStv subscribers in the west African country where MultiChoice won't be hiking subscription fees on 1 April.

In contrast to South Africa where MultiChoice is again increasing hiking DStv subscription fees from 1 April, Ghana has joined the growing number of African countries where MultiChoice Africa has either lowered DStv and GOtv subscription fees the past few months, or kept it unchanged.

MultiChoice Ghana in a statement says "in the last two years we have offered the best value entertainment by combining both quality and variety at a reduced rate to ensure everyone has access to great family entertainment. Consistently we have remodeled our business and adjusted our pricing and content to best suit the varied lifestyle of our subscribers".

MultiChoice Ghana says it is doing "a price freeze on all DStv and GOtv packages for our residential subscribers however our commercial subscribers will get some decreases effective 1 April 2018".

Cecil Sunkwa-Mills, MultiChoice Ghana general manager also revealed that MultiChoice will be adding a 24-hour World Cup channel, SuperSport 13 (DStv 213) as "an appetiser" of the 2018 FIFA World Cup starting later this year in Russia.

All 64 matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup will be available on all DStv packages.

MultiChoice opens a gleaming new MultiChoice Ghana head office in Accra to service West-Africa regions; houses a decoder repair and call centre, gym and warehouse.

MultiChoice in Ghana officially opened its brand-new head office building for Ghana and West Africa in that country's capital of Accra on Thursday.

The satellite pay-TV service's new white walls and gleaming, double-glazed glass headquarters with 5 400 square metres in office space, is located at Abelenkpe in Accra.

Designed by architect Andrew Prah of Andrew Prah Consulting and incorporating big glass curtain walls, the new three storey building now houses 142 MultiChoice staffers looking after operations in Ghana as well as some West and Central Africa regions.

The plan is to later add another 3 levels, making it a 6-storey building.

Ghana's president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo who was supposed to attend the official opening on Thursday but didn't, in a statement congratulated MultiChoice Africa and said the "opening of the building shows that MultiChoice Ghana is here to stay".

MultiChoice Africa has had a presence in Ghana since 1993 where the number of DStv subscribers have steadily grown over the past 24 years. MultiChoice's digital terrestrial television (DTT) pay-TV service, GOtv, launched in Ghana in 2013.

The new MultiChoice Ghana head office that on Thursday was decked out in the multi-coloured rainbow shades of its MultiChoice logo on the outside in flowing decorative drapery for the official opening ceremony, has a warehouse, a decoder repair centre, a customer call centre, conference rooms and training spaces as well as an on-premises gym and a staff canteen.

"Ultimate customer convenience is at the heart of the design of our new office complex with easy accessibility, ample parking space, a customer experiential zone for new products and services as well as a Q-matic system to manage and schedule customer waiting time," says Richard Darko, MultiChoice Ghana board chairperson.