Ghana’s parliamentary minority is calling for the resignation of Communications Minister Sam Nartey George, accusing him of mismanaging a high-profile standoff with MultiChoice, the South African media company behind DStv, and misleading the public over the outcome of negotiations on subscription fees.
In a press conference held Thursday in Accra, Charles Owiredu, Deputy Ranking Member of the Communications Committee, alleged that the Minister failed to deliver on a public pledge to secure a 30% reduction in DStv subscription costs. Instead, the Minister later characterized a standard promotional campaign by MultiChoice as a landmark achievement resulting from government intervention.
“We demand that the Minister render an unqualified apology to Ghanaians for the waste of public resources and time,” Owiredu said. “He should refund any levies imposed on DStv and step down—or the President should relieve him of his duties.”
The dispute stems from earlier commitments by Minister George to push for substantial reductions in pay-TV fees, amid public complaints over rising costs and limited regulatory oversight of satellite broadcasters. However, the Minority contends that the Minister’s efforts failed to produce tangible results and that he later attempted to take credit for a long-planned promotional initiative by MultiChoice, known as the “Step Up” campaign.
That campaign, which began in January 2025 and runs through the end of the year, allows customers to upgrade to higher-tier packages at no extra charge. MultiChoice also slashed decoder prices in July as part of what the company called routine customer appreciation efforts. Owiredu described the Minister’s portrayal of these moves as government-won concessions as “misleading at best, and deceptive at worst.”
“These promotions are part of MultiChoice’s regional strategy and are in no way the result of any negotiations with the Ministry,” he said.
In addition to questioning the Minister’s performance, the Minority raised concerns about his conduct in parliamentary committee meetings, accusing him of lacking the necessary “mental rigour” to effectively manage a key sector portfolio that includes digital infrastructure and telecommunications policy.
The controversy escalated following conflicting public communications. On October 1, MultiChoice Ghana issued a statement clarifying that a frequently asked questions (FAQ) document on its website—which downplayed government involvement in the promotion—was published in error. The company also reiterated its support for a government-backed “value upgrade” initiative launched the same day, although details of that collaboration remain unclear.
Minister George has not yet issued a formal response to the Minority’s demands. The President’s office has also remained silent on the matter as of Friday.
The episode adds to a string of policy headaches for Ghana’s communications sector, which is under pressure to improve consumer protections in an increasingly digital economy while maintaining investment flows from global telecom and media firms.
