By Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has waded into the ongoing standoff between Communications Minister Sam George and MultiChoice Ghana, questioning the legal grounds for a potential shutdown of DStv operations in the country.
In a Facebook post titled “Is the Law with Sam George, Too?”, Manasseh noted that while many Ghanaians support the minister’s demand for price reductions, the legal framework for such enforcement remains unclear.
“Unlike electricity, water, or food, I can live without DSTV,” he wrote. “So, it is safe to say it’s not an essential commodity or service, even if investors disagree.”
He explained that market forces usually determine the pricing of non-essential goods and services in free-market economies, raising doubts about whether government intervention in DStv pricing falls within existing regulatory laws.
The journalist further highlighted that some Ghanaian subscribers exploit loopholes by purchasing cheaper DStv subscriptions from Nigeria, which partly explains the widespread public support for price reductions in Ghana.
However, he asked whether the principle of price regulation, if applied to DStv, should not also extend to other private businesses, such as food vendors, who set their own prices without government control.
“My interest is in the law, and this is where I need education,” he stated. “So far, I have heard the price comparative argument, but I’m yet to hear the legal argument.”
Manasseh’s remarks add a new layer to the debate, shifting the focus from consumer sentiment to questions of legality and regulatory authority.
The National Communications Authority (NCA), under directives from the Ministry of Communications, has already given MultiChoice a deadline to present a revised pricing structure, failing which enforcement action could be taken.
But as Manasseh suggests, the key question remains: under what law is government empowered to compel a private pay-TV operator to reduce its prices?
