The head of Ghana’s Consumer Protection Agency has sharply criticized the government’s newly formed committee tasked with reviewing DSTV subscription fees, calling the absence of consumer representation “unacceptable.”
Kofi Kapito, Executive Director of the CPA, said Monday that the exclusion of everyday subscribers from the committee undermines the credibility of the review process, which begins its work today under the leadership of Communications Minister Sam Nartey George.
“We are the ones paying the DSTV bills every month,” Mr. Kapito said in an interview. “Yet I see no consumer representation on a committee that will decide how much we pay. That’s a serious oversight.”
The committee, established by the Ministry of Communications, Digital Technologies and Innovations, is expected to assess arguments for and against a possible reduction in DSTV subscription rates—a subject that has sparked intense public debate in recent weeks. DSTV Ghana, a subsidiary of South Africa’s MultiChoice Group, has defended its pricing, citing rising operational costs and exchange rate pressures.
Chaired by Minister George, the panel is comprised of government and industry stakeholders but no consumer advocacy groups, a point Mr. Kapito argues risks tilting the review in favor of corporate and bureaucratic interests.
“Consumer participation would bring necessary balance,” he said. “It is the subscribers who bear the financial burden, and their concerns deserve a seat at the table.”
The committee’s findings could shape future regulatory action, including potential government intervention in subscription pricing—a move that would mark a significant shift in how pay-TV services are regulated in Ghana.
As the committee convenes, consumer groups are expected to ramp up calls for greater transparency and inclusion in the process. Whether those voices will influence the ongoing review remains to be seen.
