NPP’s Haruna Mohammed Slams Sam George’s DStv ‘Victory’ as Mere Marketing Gimmick
Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Haruna Mohammed, has sharply criticized Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George, dismissing his announcement of enhanced DStv packages as a hollow achievement and accusing him of misleading Ghanaians with exaggerated claims of government intervention.
In an October 4, 2025, interview on Channel One TV’s The Big Issue, Mohammed argued that the upgrades—effective October 1, 2025—are nothing more than MultiChoice’s standard promotional tactics, not a structural price reduction.
Mohammed challenged subscribers to check their DStv portals, insisting no core prices have changed: “Sam George’s effort yielded no results… What they are doing is a promotion for them to get people to patronise the DStv package, which they have been doing consistently.” He described the three-month trial—offering 33% to 50% more channels via automatic bouquet upgrades without fee hikes—as temporary and subject to review, typical of MultiChoice’s marketing playbook rather than a concession to regulatory pressure.
George’s September 29, 2025, briefing celebrated the deal as an “unprecedented increased value offer only in Ghana,” crediting a stakeholder committee chaired by him and involving the National Communications Authority (NCA) and MultiChoice. The upgrades include Padi (GH¢59) to Access (valued at GH¢99, +35 channels), Second (GH¢99) to Family (GH¢190, +19 channels), and up to Premium perks, framed as easing household burdens amid cedi volatility.
However, MultiChoice’s clarification on October 1 addressed FAQ confusion, confirming the enhancements as a “Ghana-only” initiative without price cuts, apologizing for any misleading impressions.
The dispute originated from George’s August 2025 ultimatum demanding a 30% cut or license suspension, citing DStv’s high fees (e.g., Premium at ~$83 vs. $29 in Nigeria) despite the cedi’s 40% appreciation.549649412241 MultiChoice resisted, citing sustainability, leading to this compromise amid subscriber losses (e.g., Kenya’s 84% drop).f61587a9c717 Mohammed’s critique echoes NPP’s earlier accusations of George’s “u-turn” and lack of “mental rigour,” with Parliament’s Communications Committee summoning both for scrutiny.
