Accra, Ghana – MultiChoice Ghana, the company wey dey operate DSTV, don announce say dem go increase subscription prices for all e packages by 15% wey go start from April 1, 2025. Na dis announcement be di third price increase wey don happen in less than a year, after two increases wey happen for 2024 wey make plenty subscribers vex.
Di new price go affect all DSTV packages as MultiChoice talk say na rising operational costs and economic pressures wey dey cause di increase. Di increase dey come at a time wey economic wahala don dey affect plenty Ghanaians, from inflation to currency wahala, wey don dey squeeze many families budget.
Consumer advocacy group, CUTS International, don dey complain strongly about di price increase. Dem criticize MultiChoice for di short notice wey dem give, calling on di company to change dem communication style and give subscribers enough notice before dem increase payment. “Short notices dey kill trust and dey burden consumers,” one spokesperson from CUTS talk.
Di repeated price increases fit make subscribers loyalty dey shake, especially as competition dey grow from streaming platforms wey dey offer cheaper alternatives. “This situation go dey test how much customers dey loyal to DSTV, especially as dem dey face alternatives for di streaming market,” CUTS International add.
“Wen service providers dey increase di prices, e dey important to respect consumer’s rights and make dem no dey feel say dem dey exploited,” di spokesperson continue. “Time wey dem take to notify customers no good. Wey dem for give subscribers at least one month notice before dem change prices.”
Dem point out say for Nigeria, di Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission dey raise similar issues with MultiChoice Nigeria when dem try increase prices without adequate notice. Di Nigerian body even direct MultiChoice make dem give subscribers one month free subscription as compensation.
According to CUTS, MultiChoice dey enjoy market dominance because dem get access to premium content like di English Premier League and UEFA League. But dis market strength come with di responsibility to ensure say dem no take advantage of consumers.
Dem urge say Ghana need better consumer protection laws wey go dey ensure say dem no exploit consumers, especially in a market wey dey relax. “It be time for Ghana to get comprehensive Consumer Protection and Competition Act wey go protect consumers and promote fair practices,” dem conclude.
This announcement don cause big concern among di public as many Ghanaians dey brace demself for di financial impact wey di price increase go bring.
As di date wey di new price go take effect dey near, it remain to be seen how subscribers go respond to dis hike and whether MultiChoice go change dem mind based on di pressure wey don dey come from di advocacy groups.
