The Minister of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Mr. Samuel Nartey George, has described as annoying the 9-page letter sent to him by MultiChoice Ghana over his request for a 30% price reduction of the DStv subscription fee.
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In a Facebook post, the Minister “I appreciate the call by the NPP Minority on the Communications Select Committee of Parliament for engagement,” adding, “As Minister and an MP, I have the utmost respect for my oversight Committee.”
“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,” – He stated
The Minister, during the Government Accountability Series, said DStv will be suspended in Ghana if it fails to reduce its subscription fees, arguing that other African countries pay far less.
But the company maintains “It is not tenable to reduce the DStv subscription fees in the manner proposed by the Minister,” it stated, stressing that it has never referred to the cedi’s appreciation as a “fluke.”
The seemingly loud disagreement between the Minister and the company forced the Minority Member of Parliament to call for “engagement” on the matter.
But according to Ningo Prampram MP, he has had two meetings with the company, but the company remains unchanged in its decision to maintain the higher price. This, the Minister says, he has to take the last resort regulatory action in accordance with the law.
“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. 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. (Pictures of both meetings are attached. I have videos as well if needed).” – he said
“I have always approached this matter with one goal, a fair price for the Ghanaian people. DStv responded with a 9-page letter on 21st July. (If the 1-page letter annoyed you, imagine what was in the 9-pager). 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
Read his full post:
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.
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.
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. 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. (Pictures of both meetings are attached. I have videos as well if needed).
I have always approached this matter with one goal, a fair price for the Ghanaian people. DStv responded with a 9-page letter on 21st July. (If the 1-page letter annoyed you, imagine what was in the 9-pager). 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.
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. 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. 🦁🇬🇭
