Gov’t threatens DStv shutdown by September 6 over pricing data demand

The Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations has issued a final warning to MultiChoice Ghana, operators of DStv, threatening to shut down the company’s transmissions in Ghana by September 6, 2025, if it fails to comply with a regulatory directive.

This development intensifies the ongoing dispute between the government and the pay-TV provider over the company’s refusal to submit detailed pricing data, which the Ministry says is essential for fair consumer pricing.

The Ministry is demanding a comprehensive breakdown of DStv’s bouquet prices, associated taxes, and a comparative analysis with prices in at least six other African countries.

The data, according to the Ministry, is crucial to engaging MultiChoice on the possibility of reducing subscription fees for Ghanaians.

Speaking on Eyewitness News on Citi FM on Friday, August 15, the Minister Samuel Nartey George, disclosed that MultiChoice had failed to meet a deadline for submitting the information, despite being granted an extension until Monday, August 11.

“They said they wanted to provide a consolidated response, and I asked what that meant. They explained that they wanted to submit the information alongside a response to the 30-day suspension notice. The two are not connected in any way.

“The suspension notice is saying that they failed to apply to the first request of the Ministry, and per the terms of their licence, we have the power to suspend your licence in the interest of the public or on national security grounds. So, we invoked that clause and suspended it.”

“While they seek to consolidate us, I will enforce the laws of the land. We have fined them GHC10,000. If on the 6th of September there is no resolution, we will stop any transmission of DStv in the country,” he said.

Minister George confirmed that the Ministry has already begun imposing a statutory daily fine of GHC10,000 on MultiChoice, effective Friday, August 15.