The Minister of Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Sam George, has firmly stated that the ultimatum issued to MultiChoice Ghana—operators of DStv—to reduce subscription charges by 30 percent by August 7, will not be compromised. His remarks, shared in a Facebook post yesterday, came in response to the company’s statement expressing a desire to protect various job sectors in Ghana that rely on its operations and to engage constructively with the ministry, following the minister’s warning issued last Friday.
In his post, Mr. George highlighted that back in April, at a time when the Ghanaian cedi had appreciated by 10 percent against major currencies, inflation had decreased by over five percent, and fuel prices had fallen, DStv announced and implemented a 15 percent subscription increase. He emphasized that his decision was further supported by the fact that the same company operating in Nigeria reversed its price increases after being sued by Nigerian authorities. The Nigerian House of Representatives intervened and ordered a suspension of those increases, which DStv complied with.
Suspension
During the Accountability Briefing in Accra, the minister described MultiChoice’s current pricing as exploitative. He pointed out that the Premium bouquet costs $83 in Ghana, while it is only $29 in Nigeria. “This is plain stealing. I will not sit idle while Ghanaians are exploited,” the minister stated. He announced that the National Communications Authority (NCA) had been instructed to enforce a suspension if MultiChoice fails to comply by August 7, 2025. The pay-TV operator had previously resisted the price reduction, arguing that currency depreciation and operational costs justified maintaining its current rates. This action is part of the government’s broader efforts to ensure fair pricing in the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors.
Data costs slashed
Mr George said effective July 1, 2025, mobile data tariffs were significantly reduced following regulatory interventions. Major operators, including MTN, Telecel and AirtelTigo, increased data bundle volumes by 10-15 per cent, with MTN’s high-use GH¢399 bundle now offering 214GB instead of 92GB.
“We have fulfilled our promise to make data affordable for Ghanaians,” he said, adding, “This was achieved through a comprehensive reform package, including spectrum reviews and revised licensing conditions.” Additionally, he said telecom firms had committed to investing $150 million in network improvements by year-end.
The minister noted that the flagship One Million Coders Programme, launched in April, had already trained 859 participants in its pilot phase, with over 52 per cent being women. The initiative, he said, aimed to equip 50,000 Ghanaians with digital skills by December.
“The overwhelming response, 90,000 applications in 48 hours, shows the hunger for digital opportunity among our youth,” Mr George said.
Regulatory reforms
Mr George said the ministry was drafting 15 new laws, including amendments to the Data Protection Act and the Ghana Startup Bill, to modernise the digital regulatory framework. He said Ghana’s first National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, developed with UNESCO and other partners, was set for Cabinet approval soon.
Touching on the controversial KelniGVG revenue monitoring contract, he said the agreement was being renegotiated following revelations that the company’s fees accounted for 84 per cent of the state’s revenue from international inbound traffic. “We will not extend this contract,” Mr George said. He also noted that the Girls-in-ICT initiative trained 1,000 girls in the Volta Region, with plans to expand to the Upper East and Upper West regions.
“We are bridging the gender gap in tech,” he noted.
Notable collaborations include a $1 billion Ghana-UAE Innovation Hub deal and skills training partnerships with Huawei and Google, which will train 100,000 Ghanaians each under the One Million Coders Programme. He reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to an inclusive digital economy. “We are building a Ghana where every citizen, business, and region benefits from technology,” he said.
Progress
On other subjects, Mr George said the ministry had recorded significant progress in advancing Ghana’s digital transformation agenda, with key achievements in data cost reduction, digital skills development, and regulatory reforms. He outlined major strides in implementing the government’s RESET agenda, including the successful launch of the One Million Coders Programme, enforcement of fair pricing in the telecom sector, and a crackdown on exploitative broadcasting practices.
By: Kester Aburam Korankye
