South Africa has mediated the a growing disagreement between Ghana’s Ministry of Communications and MultiChoice Ghana over recent increases in DStv subscription fees.
Member of Parliament and Deputy Ranking Member on Ghana’s Communications Committee Charles Owiredu, disclosed that South Africa’s Foreign Minister is expected to visit Accra soon to meet with Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa, in hopes of resolving the issue diplomatically.
Mr. Owiredu emphasized that the situation could have been handled more peacefully and warned against using threats or public ultimatums.
He acknowledged that MultiChoice might cite the rising value of the dollar as a reason for the price hike but insisted that such matters should be addressed through private discussions rather than public confrontations.
He also stressed the importance of preserving Ghana’s longstanding relationship with South Africa and cautioned against letting this dispute damage bilateral ties. A parliamentary meeting involving the Ministry of Communications, the National Communications Authority (NCA), and MultiChoice was postponed due to a recent helicopter crash but is now rescheduled for September 10.
Owiredu advocated for a balanced solution that considers both the interests of DStv and its subscribers.
He criticized the Communications Minister’s approach of airing grievances on social media and called for diplomatic engagement instead.
Meanwhile, the NCA confirmed it has received MultiChoice Ghana’s formal response to the Ministry’s warning about possible license suspension.
The company has agreed to participate in a newly formed Stakeholder Committee tasked with reviewing DStv’s pricing model in Ghana. Their first meeting is set for September 8.
Author: Jasmine Adjei
Development journalist
