Public reaction has been divided following the announcement of a new arrangement with MultiChoice Ghana on DStv subscriptions.
Addressing the press on Monday, September 29, Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Sam Nartey George, said MultiChoice had agreed to deliver unprecedented increased value to subscribers in Ghana.
According to him, starting October 1, customers would now enjoy between 33% to 50% more channels at the same price they pay.
He cited examples where subscribers on the Paddy package (GH₵59) will now be upgraded to the Access package with 35 extra channels, while those on Access (GH₵99) will move to Family with 19 more channels.
Other bouquets, namely Family, Compact, Compact Plus and Premium, will also receive upgrades in their channels.
Premium package subscribers would stand a chance to win trips to watch English Premier League matches abroad.
Sam George described the agreement as a win for consumers.
“Effectively, MultiChoice has offered value over and above what we expected of them. I went into this with the request for 30%. With what we have discussed here, the lowest is 33% and the highest is 50%,” he noted.
Following the announcement, many Ghanaians have taken to social media to voice their thoughts.
The debate over whether this truly constitutes a price cut or simply a repackaging exercise has left subscribers sharply divided.
Some argue that the minister’s initial demand was for a price reduction, not just additional value in the form of more channels insist the problem remains unresolved.
However, some subscribers have welcomed the changes, saying the deal still amounts to a reduction in real terms.
They argue that customers can now simply move one package down and still enjoy the channels they previously had, thereby saving money.
In July, Sam George publicly called for a 30% reduction in subscription fees of what he called high prices, warning that MultiChoice risked a suspension of its operating license.
