Pay-TV service provider DStv has issued a formal response following public pressure led by Ghana’s Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Samuel Nartey George, who criticized the platform’s high subscription prices in Ghana compared to neighbouring Nigeria.
Sam George, who is also the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, had urged DStv to align its pricing model in Ghana with that of Nigeria, where subscribers pay about $29 for the Premium package. In Ghana, the same package currently costs around $82 — nearly three times more.
Multichoice Defends Its Pricing Structure
In its response, Multichoice Ghana attributed the price difference to several factors, including local tax structures, foreign exchange rates, and regulatory fees unique to each country.
“Each country we operate in has its own regulatory, operational, and taxation framework which impacts our pricing structure. Comparisons without context may not accurately reflect the challenges of delivering service in each location,” the company said in a statement.
Multichoice emphasized that it remains committed to providing quality and affordable content while navigating inflation, currency depreciation, and rising operational costs in Ghana.
Growing Public Discontent
Despite the explanation, many Ghanaians continue to voice dissatisfaction with the pricing disparities. Consumers argue that the value of content delivered is largely the same across markets and should therefore be priced more equitably.
Sam George has vowed to pursue regulatory interventions if DStv fails to adjust its pricing within a reasonable timeframe, citing the financial burden on ordinary Ghanaians and calling for transparency in the company’s pricing model.
The development has reignited discussions on consumer protection, media access, and corporate responsibility within Ghana’s telecommunications and broadcasting sectors.
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