Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George has announced that MultiChoice Ghana has agreed to lower its subscription fees, though the company is requesting a 30-day period to finalize the extent of the reduction.
Despite this request, the Minister maintained that the process could be completed within a shorter timeframe.
Speaking to journalists on Friday, September 5, Mr. George revealed that MultiChoice had officially contacted both the Ministry of Communications and the National Communications Authority (NCA) the previous day, expressing its willingness to engage in discussions.
“We’ve taken a decision to immediately establish a stakeholder committee comprising representatives from Ministry of Communication, the regulator, which is the NCA, Multichoice Ghana, and Multichoice Africa. I will personally chair the committee.” he stated
Although MultiChoice proposed a 30-day timeline for the committee to conclude its work, the Minister believes a quicker resolution is feasible.“I believe that we do not need 30 days. Fourteen days is enough for us to reach this decision, inclusive of weekends,” he emphasized.
Mr. George reiterated that the stakeholder committee has already been constituted, including members from the Ministry, the NCA, and both branches of MultiChoice. He confirmed that he will serve as the chairperson and that the committee is expected to present a revised pricing model by September 21.
This development comes after sustained scrutiny of the satellite television provider. On August 4, the NCA demanded a breakdown of the pricing structure for MultiChoice’s bouquet offerings in Ghana and seven other African nations.
MultiChoice’s initial failure to comply led to a daily penalty of GH¢10,000 starting August 14, along with a 30-day suspension notice effective August 7. However, that suspension has been put on hold as negotiations move forward.
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