Sam George: 7 August action will protect Ghanaians from DStv monopoly

The Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Sam Nartey George, has announced that the sector regulator will, on 7 August, take decisive action under the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775), and relevant licence terms to protect the interests of Ghanaians in the ongoing dispute with pay-TV operator DStv.

In a statement on social media, the Minister acknowledged the call by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority on the Communications Select Committee of Parliament for engagement on the matter.

“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 said.

Providing background, Mr. George revealed that he met the Ghanaian management of DStv on 27 June to raise concerns over pricing and piracy. This was followed by a meeting with the company’s headquarters management on 4 July — held on a public holiday — where he requested a 30% price reduction and urged the company to address piracy on its platform.

“I have always approached this matter with one goal — a fair price for the Ghanaian people,” he stressed.

DStv responded with a nine-page letter on 21 July, which the Minister described as a further indication of the company’s resistance to addressing public concerns.

“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,” Mr. George noted.

He emphasised that the 7 August action will be guided strictly by law, targeting what he views as an entrenched market position.

“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,” he concluded.