Sam George Sets August 7 Deadline for DStv Sanctions

Minister of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, has reaffirmed his commitment to securing fair pricing for Ghanaian DStv subscribers, revealing that regulatory action will be initiated on August 7 if MultiChoice fails to respond appropriately to government concerns.

The Minister acknowledged the request from the NPP Minority on the Communications Select Committee of Parliament for further engagement on the matter In a detailed statement posted on Facebook in a postsighted by Liberalprint.

“I appreciate the call by the NPP Minority on the Communications Select Committee of Parliament for engagement. As Minister and an MP, I have the utmost respect for my oversight Committee,” he stated, assuring that a full update would be provided once regulatory actions are finalised.

“I can assure the Committee as a whole that the Ministry would provide a full update when we complete our regulatory actions on 7th August.”

Sam George outlined a timeline of interactions with MultiChoice, revealing that he first raised the issue directly with the Ghanaian management of DStv in June.

“For the records, let me state that I met the Ghanaian management of DStv on the 27th of June this year to raise my concerns with them.

“I subsequently wrote to invite their headquarters management and met them on 4th July,” he said, noting that the latter meeting occurred on a national holiday.

According to him, during the July meeting, he formally requested a 30% reduction in subscription fees and urged the company to address piracy concerns negatively affecting Ghanaian content creators.

“A meeting that was held on a holiday and at which I indicated our request of a 30% reduction and the need for DStv to deal with piracy which was being perpetrated on their platform to the detriment of Ghana,” he explained.

Despite these efforts, George described MultiChoice’s response as dismissive. “DStv responded with a 9-page letter on 21st July. (If the 1-page letter annoyed you, imagine what was in the 9-pager),” he wrote, suggesting that the company had failed to take government concerns seriously.

He defended the ministry’s recent policy directive against DStv, stating it was a last resort. “The policy directive is a last resort action to protect the Ghanaian public from what appears to be a recalcitrant monopoly which has become tone deaf to the cries of their customers,” he added.

Asserting that the Ministry will act lawfully, Sam George stressed that the regulator would enforce provisions of the Electronic Communications Act.

“On the 7th of August, the Regulator would initiate action in line with the terms of the license authorisation and the Electronic Communications Act, Act 775. We would act within the law and in the interest of the Ghanaian people.”

He concluded with a firm reminder of his obligation to the nation: “The RESET agenda demands this action for sanity to prevail. I remain accountable to the people of Ghana in my service as Minister. For God and Country.”

Source: Liberalprint.com