Nana Yaa Jantuah, a presidential staffer and former executive secretary of Ghana’s Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), has strongly echoed calls for MultiChoice Ghana to cut its DStv subscription prices—arguing that the current fees are unjustified and the content increasingly stale and outdated. Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show on August 5, 2025, she declared: “They should reduce their prices because their content is even horrible.” She further added that besides African Magic programming, most foreign shows DStv airs are old, which falls short of expectations given its charges.
Jantuah highlighted her own viewing habits: she keeps DStv at home solely for her male household members who enjoy it; otherwise, she’d prefer Netflix. In her view, DStv’s price point is disproportionate compared to the perceived value of its offerings.
Her comments come amid mounting political pressure led by the Minister of Communications—Samuel Nartey George—who has ordered MultiChoice to impose a 30% reduction in subscription fees by August 7 or face possible suspension of its broadcasting licence via the National Communications Authority (NCA). The minister slammed MultiChoice’s defense that pricing reflects economic conditions and cedi depreciation, calling it unacceptable given that Nigerians pay substantially less for the same package despite deeper currency declines.
The dispute is rooted in a stark price comparison: DStv’s Premium package costs Ghanaian subscribers around US $82, while that same tier costs Nigerians approximately US $29—despite Ghana’s cedi having strengthened more recently. Consumers have vocally protested this disparity, deeming Ghana’s pricing exploitative given limited competition in the pay-TV sector.
Social media and online forums reflect widespread public dissatisfaction. On Reddit, several users described DStv as heavily overpriced and full of reruns:
“DSTV is a rip off … Only useful for watching football. Still had to pay a lot to be able to watch different football competitions”
Others echoed similar frustrations:
“It’s definitely a rip off … the prices, the outdated content, endless repeats”
These sentiments reinforce Jantuah’s critique: beyond price, subscribers question the platform’s ability to deliver fresh, engaging content.
MultiChoice Ghana has resisted the proposed price hike, arguing that further cuts would compromise content quality and be economically unbearable—especially in a country facing tax burdens of nearly 29% and high operating costs tied to cedi volatility. The company offered a compromise—maintaining current rates but ceasing revenue remittance to its South African parent—but the minister dismissed this as illogical, insisting that lowering consumer-facing prices is essential.
Critics warn that heavy-handed regulation could discourage investment in Ghana’s digital services sector. However, the government’s position asserts that consumer protection dictates fair pricing, not negotiated deals behind closed doors.
Why it matters
- Consumer trust is waning: Subscribers resent paying premium rates for programming they view as outdated. African Magic content—while popular—is not seen as sufficient justification for high tiers.
- Transparency and fairness debates loom large: With few alternative platforms offering the same sports and local shows, MultiChoice operates under a quasi-monopoly—heightening pressure for greater accountability.
- Regulatory precedent: If the NCA suspends DStv’s licence over pricing, it would be a landmark intervention with ripple effects across telecom and media sectors.
About the author
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