The government is expected to announce its formal position Thursday in a mounting regulatory dispute with MultiChoice Ghana, the local operator of satellite television service DStv, as tensions rise over subscription pricing and compliance issues.
The Ministry of Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovation has warned that MultiChoice could face a suspension of operations by September 6 unless the company agrees to reduce its subscription fees, which authorities say are disproportionately high for Ghanaian consumers.
The dispute centers on MultiChoice’s alleged failure to provide pricing data requested by the country’s communications regulator. The company is currently subject to a daily penalty of GHC10,000 (approximately $850), which has accrued to over GHC150,000 since the compliance deadline lapsed.
Communications Minister Samuel George said the government remains firm on its demand for price adjustments but remains open to negotiation. “Last night, a team from MultiChoice reached out and made some proposals,” he said in an interview. “We’ve asked for further concessions. I’ve given them up to the close of business today.”
An official government statement is expected later in the day. The minister noted that “strong indications” suggest a resolution may still be possible ahead of the weekend deadline.
The dispute has attracted considerable public interest, with consumer advocates and industry analysts criticizing what they describe as opaque pricing practices and a lack of regulatory accountability in Ghana’s pay-TV market.
If negotiations fail, the government could take the unprecedented step of halting MultiChoice Ghana’s operations—a move that would disrupt service to millions of households across the country and potentially raise questions about investor confidence in the sector.
MultiChoice has not publicly commented on the current status of the negotiations.
