Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has waded into the ongoing controversy surrounding DSTV pricing in Ghana, criticizing the National Communications Authority (NCA) for what he describes as a lack of honesty and shifting of positions in its recent statement.
According to Manasseh, while he personally supports any government intervention that could lead to a price reduction for DSTV subscribers, the handling of the matter has raised concerns about transparency and good governance.
He pointed out that MultiChoice Ghana had never opposed participating in the stakeholder committee set up to evaluate DSTV pricing.
In fact, in its September 5 press statement, the company had indicated that it would “fully participate in the established working committee” to resolve the impasse.
However, MultiChoice firmly denied Communications Minister Sam George’s claim that the company had already agreed to reduce prices.
This denial triggered the minister’s fury, leading him to share MultiChoice’s press release on social media and threaten to shut down DSTV within 24 hours if the company failed to engage in discussions on a price reduction. Manasseh, however, argued that the minister’s reaction was misleading.
“Agreeing to discuss a price reduction is not the same as assuring the minister that it had agreed to reduce its prices, as the minister had announced,” he stressed, noting that the company had never shifted from its September 5 position.
The journalist also questioned the legal basis for the minister’s threat to shut down DSTV.
“Some of us wanted education on the law under which the minister would shut down the broadcasting entity yesterday. We are yet to be convinced,” he said.
Manasseh maintained that the real inconsistency lies in the government’s handling of the situation.
He argued that while MultiChoice has remained consistent, it is the NCA and the Ministry who appear to have backtracked after initially taking a hardline stance.
“The NCA and the Ministry may have evaluated their position and decided to continue with the committee’s engagement, which Multichoice had clearly indicated its willingness to engage.
“That admission would not be a weakness. Changing course to get a better result is a strength. And the NCA statement should have honestly admitted that,” he emphasized.
