DSTV Impasse: Minority Committee Members Fire Back at Sam George

The ongoing debate over the DSTV subscription controversy has taken a new twist, as minority members of Parliament’s Committee on Communication and Information have issued a sharp rebuttal to comments made by Hon. Samuel Nartey George during an interview on JoyNews.

In their statement, signed by the Ranking Member of the Committee, Hon. Matthew Nyindam, the minority accused the Ningo-Prampram MP of displaying “arrogance, disrespect, and pomposity” in his handling of the matter.

According to the minority, they had formally written to the committee chairman—who is a majority member—requesting a meeting to address the DSTV impasse, but stressed that only the chairman has the authority to summon such meetings.

The statement also recalled an earlier position taken by Hon. Sam George, in which he assured Ghanaians that any engagement with DSTV would result in an agreed reduction in subscription prices, not merely package upgrades. The minority suggested that the MP had since shifted his stance, raising questions about consistency.

Minority’s Demands

The minority caucus outlined two key demands in relation to the impasse:

1. The Minister of Communication and Digitalisation should publicly explain why his position on rejecting DSTV package upgrades in favour of a price reduction of not less than 30% appears to have changed.
2. The Minister should also account for revenues accrued from the GH¢10,000 levy imposed on DSTV since its inception.

Responding to what they described as insults from Hon. Sam George, the minority members said they would not demand an apology, adding that “it is a trait too expensive for him to afford.”

They emphasized their commitment to their parliamentary duties, stating: “We reiterate that the minority members on the committee are dedicated professionals who take their responsibilities seriously and are always available for scheduled meetings.”

The statement was signed by Hon. Matthew Nyindam, Ranking Member of the Committee on Information and Communication.