Consumer advocacy group CUTS International is urging the Ministry of Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovation, along with the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, to intervene in MultiChoice Ghana Limited’s decision to raise service prices. CUTS International has expressed concerns about the short notice provided for this price increase, which is scheduled to take effect on April 1.
The subscription price adjustment represents an average increase of 15% across all subscriber packages. Multichoice Ghana stated that it took into account the rate of consumer inflation and the current economic pressures facing customers when determining this price change. However, the consumer advocacy group CUTS International has criticized the short notice provided to customers regarding this adjustment.
West African Regional Director of CUTS, Appiah Kusi Adomako, in an interview with Citi Business News, stressed that it was not against the price adjustment as the country operates a deregulated market. He is thus calling for intervention from relevant sector ministries to reconsider the timing of the adjustment, arguing that consumers should have been given more time to prepare.
DSTV holds a significant dominant position in the satellite TV market. They have access to premium content such as the English Premier League (EPL) and the UEFA channel, which gives them a competitive advantage that other providers lack. However, there are concerns that DSTV may be misusing its dominant role in the market.
“If it were not having this dominant role, I am not sure it would have done this. I want to ask the Ministry of Communication and Trade to compel DSTV to rescind it on its one week notice and give Ghanaians a minimum of a month’s notice as per the terms of a good contract,” Appiah Kusi Adomako said
