MultiChoice requested 30 days, but 14 is enough – Sam George on subscription price cuts

Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George says MultiChoice Ghana has agreed to reduce its subscription prices but is seeking a 30-day window to determine the percentage cut.

He, however, insisted that two weeks is enough to complete the process.

Briefing the press on Friday, September 5, the Minister confirmed that MultiChoice had formally reached out to the Ministry of Communications and the National Communications Authority (NCA) on Thursday to signal its readiness for talks.

“We’ve taken a decision to immediately establish a stakeholder committee comprising representatives from Ministry of Communication, the regulator, which is the NCA, Multichoice Ghana, and Multichoice Africa. I will personally chair the committee.”

“MultiChoice, however, requested 30 days for the committee to complete its work. However, the Minister said it can be done within 2 weeks.

“I believe that we do not need 30 days. Fourteen days is enough for us to reach this decision, inclusive of weekends,” he stated.

Mr George added that a stakeholder committee has been set up to oversee the process, comprising representatives from the Ministry, the regulator, MultiChoice Ghana, and MultiChoice Africa.

The Minister indicated that he will personally chair the committee, which has until September 21 to deliver a new price structure.

The move follows weeks of pressure on the satellite TV provider after the NCA, on August 4, demanded details of its cost build-up for bouquets in Ghana and seven other African countries.

MultiChoice’s failure to comply triggered a GH¢10,000 daily fine from August 14 and a 30-day suspension notice effective August 7. The suspension will no longer take effect as talks progress.

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