The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations has outlined findings from a stakeholder committee set up to address concerns over DSTV pricing in Ghana and the growing challenge of cross-border piracy.
The Minister explained that the committee, which he chaired, was established after public concerns about DSTV pricing. It included representatives from the Ministry, the National Communications Authority (NCA), MultiChoice Africa, and MultiChoice Ghana.
“The committee was tasked with two clear objectives. One, to achieve a shared understanding of DSTV pricing in Ghana, and to agree on a structured, mutually acceptable, and commercially viable measure to address concerns around the pricing of the DSTV service in Ghana. Two, to establish an acceptable roadmap to curb cross-border piracy of DSTV decoders and services from Nigeria to Ghana,” he stated.
According to him, he was joined at the briefing by members of the stakeholder committee, including the CEO of Pay TV Rest of Africa, the Managing Director of MultiChoice Ghana, and the Director-General of the NCA.
The Minister commended the dedication of all parties involved despite challenges facing the service provider, noting “I must commend the committee for the commitment of all members to achieving the outcomes within the rigid time period during which MultiChoice Africa was going through a shareholder transition.”
On the issue of piracy, the Minister highlighted the economic and social harm caused by cross-border decoder smuggling, stressing “The committee considered the issue of cross-border piracy of DSTV decoders from Nigeria into Ghana, which has for years deprived the state of tax revenue. It has transferred jobs from Ghana to Nigeria, denied unsuspecting customers of good customer service, and is actively working towards the decline of the Ghanaian local content creation space.”
The Minister assured that government, in collaboration with industry stakeholders, will implement the agreed measures to safeguard Ghana’s media ecosystem and protect consumers.
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Source: Frederick Kofi Thompson-Quartey/ATLFMNEWS
