- Minority in Parliament has called for the resignation of Communications Minister Sam Nartey George.
- They accuse him of misleading Ghanaians and wasting resources in his negotiations with MultiChoice.
- The Minister had promised a 30% reduction in DSTV fees but later praised MultiChoice promotions as a “success.”
- Minority MPs argue the promotions were not due to his intervention but part of MultiChoice’s standard offers.
- MultiChoice has clarified and implemented a value upgrade for all DSTV customers, with a review due in three months.
The standoff between government and satellite television operator MultiChoice over DSTV subscription fees has taken a political twist, with the Minority in Parliament demanding the immediate resignation of Communications Minister Sam Nartey George.
At a press briefing in Parliament, Deputy Ranking Member on the Communications Committee, Charles Owiredu, accused the minister of misleading the public and failing to deliver on his promise of securing a 30% cut in DSTV fees.
According to the Minority, Mr. George’s public claims that MultiChoice’s current promotions were a result of his negotiations are “false and deceptive,” stressing that such offers are rolled out by the company across multiple countries as part of routine marketing strategies.
They insisted that the minister should apologize to Ghanaians, refund levies placed on DSTV, and step down from his position. If he refuses, they want President Akufo-Addo to remove him.
Mr. Owiredu, who also serves as the MP for Abirem, went further to criticize the minister’s performance before parliamentary committees, accusing him of lacking the intellectual depth to engage effectively on major communication and digital issues.
The controversy deepened when MultiChoice Ghana issued a clarification this week. The company expressed regret for a misleading FAQ on its website, while confirming that its value upgrade initiative had already been rolled out to all DSTV subscribers. A joint review is expected in three months to assess its impact.
For the Minority, however, this is not enough to absolve the minister. They maintain that he has “fabricated” achievements, wasted state resources, and cannot be trusted to lead a ministry so critical to Ghana’s digital future.
Reflective Opinion
This controversy exposes a deeper issue than just subscription fees—it reveals the fragile trust between citizens and those tasked to negotiate on their behalf. Ghanaians expected relief in the form of lower DSTV charges, yet what unfolded appears to be political spin rather than real policy achievement.
If the Minority’s claims hold water, then Sam George’s conduct raises troubling questions: how often are citizens promised reforms that never truly materialize? And how much of what is announced as “government intervention” is, in fact, simply corporate policy dressed up as victory?
MultiChoice’s own statement confirms that promotions were part of its internal strategies, not the result of state negotiations. This leaves the minister vulnerable to accusations of exaggeration at best, and outright deception at worst. In a sector as strategic as communications and digital technology, credibility is everything. A minister who cannot command public confidence risks undermining the very institutions he represents.
The heart of the matter is not just DSTV—it is accountability. Citizens expect leaders to negotiate in their interest, to deliver transparency, and to admit when outcomes fall short. To claim success where none exists only deepens cynicism about politics. Whether or not Sam George resigns, this episode should serve as a wake-up call: governance is not about spin but about trust, results, and responsibility.
