Samuel Nartey George, Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, has given DSTV a harsh ultimatum: if the broadcaster doesn’t lower its subscription rates in Ghana in accordance with regulatory requirements, the license will be suspended by Wednesday, August 7.
The Minister disclosed during his remarks at the Government Accountability Series on Friday, August 1, that he had sent a formal letter to the National Communications Authority (NCA) directing it to begin the suspension procedure if DSTV persists in ignoring requests to update its price.
“I have directed the NCA to act swiftly. If by the 7th of August DSTV has not complied, their broadcasting licence will be suspended,” the minister said.
Mr. George clarified that his move was in response to a recent letter from DSTV, in which the business used macroeconomic factors to defend its present pricing strategy.
According to the Minister, “DSTV claims the Ghanaian Cedi has depreciated by over 200% in the last eight years, so they cannot reduce their prices.”
Mr. George, however, rejected the justification as insufficient, stating that Ghanaians had suffered from exorbitant prices for an excessive amount of time.
“My fidelity lies with the Ghanaian people. They have been cheated for years, and it is time we put an end to that,” he asserted.
“We will not allow foreign service providers to take advantage of our citizens under the guise of economic pressures,” he reiterated.
Source: newsthemegh.com