- Communication Minister Sam George says population size doesn’t affect DStv pricing
- He cites examples from Liberia and Angola, where smaller or similar populations pay less than Ghana
- The Minister says this offer is exclusive to Ghana and not available elsewhere in Africa
Minister for Communication and Digitalisation, Sam Nartey George, has refuted claims that the cost of DStv subscriptions in Ghana is influenced by the country’s population size.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, the minister argued that population is not a key factor in determining pay-TV pricing, countering popular assumptions.
“It’s not simply about market size,” he said. “If it were, then you’d expect countries with smaller populations, like Liberia, to pay more — but they don’t.”
He cited Liberia, with a population of about five million, as an example, noting that before Ghana’s recent intervention, Liberians paid less for the same DStv services. He also referenced Angola, which has a population similar to Ghana’s (around 33 million), where DStv costs were about $30, still lower than Ghana’s previous rates.
His remarks follow a breakthrough agreement between the Government of Ghana and MultiChoice Africa, the operators of DStv. As part of the deal, from October 1, Ghanaian subscribers will enjoy more value at no extra cost.
MultiChoice has pledged to introduce a unique value offer exclusive to Ghana, increasing service value by 33% to 50%, depending on the subscription package.
“Ghanaians will now get more for less,” Mr. George announced at a press briefing on September 29. “This is MultiChoice’s response to the concerns raised by subscribers in Ghana, and this offer is unmatched across Africa.”
He further dismissed arguments that Nigeria’s lower DStv rates are due to its large population as misinformed and based on hearsay, rather than factual analysis.
“Those making that argument are simply echoing social media chatter. If population determined pricing, then Liberia wouldn’t be paying less than Ghana,” he added.
