Consumer rights organization CUTS International is urging the Ministry of Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovation, along with the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, to intervene in MultiChoice Ghana Limited’s recent decision to increase subscription prices. The group is particularly concerned about the short notice given to consumers ahead of the price adjustment, which is set to take effect on April 1.
MultiChoice Ghana announced an average 15% increase across all its subscriber packages, attributing the hike to prevailing economic conditions and inflationary pressures. However, CUTS International argues that consumers were not given sufficient time to adjust to the new pricing structure.
Concerns Over Market Dominance
Speaking to Citi Business News, West African Regional Director of CUTS, Appiah Kusi Adomako, clarified that the organization is not opposed to price adjustments in a deregulated market. However, he emphasized the need for a fairer implementation timeline.
“DSTV holds a dominant position in the satellite TV market, particularly with access to exclusive premium content such as the English Premier League (EPL) and UEFA competitions. This market power gives them an advantage over competitors who do not have access to similar content,” Adomako explained.
He accused MultiChoice Ghana of leveraging its market dominance to impose sudden price hikes without considering consumer impact. “If DSTV did not have this level of control over premium content, they would likely approach price adjustments differently,” he argued.
Call for Government Intervention
CUTS International is calling on the relevant ministries to intervene and push for an extension of the notice period for the price increase. Adomako insists that customers should have been given at least a month’s notice, in line with fair contract practices.
“We are asking the Ministry of Communications and the Ministry of Trade to compel DSTV to rescind its one-week notice and grant Ghanaian consumers a minimum of a month’s notice before implementing the new pricing structure,” he stated.
With concerns growing over affordability and accessibility to digital services, consumer advocacy groups continue to push for greater transparency and fairness in the pricing of essential digital services in Ghana. It remains to be seen whether the government will take action in response to these calls.
