BY Daniel Bampoe
The Minority in Parliament has mounted pressure on President John Mahama to dismiss Communication Minister Sam Nartey George over what they describe as a botched and misleading handling of negotiations with MultiChoice Ghana on DStv pricing.
At a press conference in Accra on Thursday, October 2, 2025, Deputy Ranking Member on the Communications Committee, Charles Owiredu, accused the minister of deliberately misleading the public after he announced a 30 percent reduction in DStv subscription fees.
According to Owiredu, MultiChoice later contradicted the minister, clarifying that the so-called price reduction was merely a temporary promotional package and not the outcome of negotiations.
“The minister’s failure to grasp key issues during meetings, or worse, a deliberate fabrication of outcomes that never existed, demonstrates poor judgment and a lack of candour,” Owiredu stated.
Background to the Impasse
The standoff between the government and MultiChoice erupted earlier this year following widespread public discontent over the cost of DStv subscription packages.
Subscribers argued that monthly fees had become unaffordable and did not reflect the economic conditions.
In response, the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations announced negotiations with MultiChoice, claiming it had secured a major win for consumers by achieving a price cut.
However, MultiChoice Ghana quickly issued a press release to set the record straight.
The company explained that the supposed “30 percent reduction” was only a promotional package offered to new and existing customers, not a permanent slash in prices.
This contradiction triggered public backlash, with many accusing the ministry of playing politics with a sensitive consumer issue.
To calm tensions, MultiChoice Ghana later reaffirmed its commitment to implementing flexible bouquet options and assured that Parliament’s Communications Committee would review the initiative after three months to assess its impact.
Minority’s Position
The Minority insists that the episode not only exposed the minister’s “penchant for deceit” but also undermined the regulatory structures.
According to Owiredu, Sam George sidelined key institutions such as the National Communications Authority (NCA) and adopted an “arbitrary decision-making posture” that poses risks to the digital and broadcasting sector.
“The minister owes Ghanaians clarity on how much was collected from fines he claims to have imposed on MultiChoice. Where is the money? How has it been applied? His lack of transparency is a breach of the president’s code of conduct, which requires candour and respect,” Owiredu added.
The Minority outlined three demands: that the minister issue an unqualified apology to Ghanaians, provide full disclosure on fines collected from MultiChoice, and resign from office. Failing that, they called on President Mahama to immediately relieve him of his post.
“For this display of incompetence and dishonesty, we deem him unfit to continue as Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations,” the statement said.
Government’s Dilemma
The calls for Sam George’s dismissal come just a day after MultiChoice issued a joint statement with the Ministry, the NCA, and other stakeholders, assuring that the new DStv value packages were being rolled out smoothly.
While that clarification helped ease public concerns, it has not silenced critics who view the minister’s earlier pronouncements as reckless and politically damaging.
