The Minority in Parliament, led by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) caucus, has urged President John Mahama to dismiss the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Sam George, accusing him of deception and poor handling of negotiations with MultiChoice over DStv subscription fees.
At a press briefing in Accra on Thursday, October 2, Deputy Ranking Member on the Communications Committee, Mr. Charles Owiredu, challenged the minister’s recent claim that he had secured a 30% reduction in DStv prices. He explained that MultiChoice later clarified the announcement, stressing that the discount was not a permanent reduction but rather a temporary promotional offer.
According to Mr. Owiredu, the episode reflected “poor judgment and a lack of candour” on the minister’s part.
“His failure to grasp key issues during meetings and communicate the actual negotiated outcomes to Ghanaians or a deliberate fabrication of what he was never able to broker is evident.
“MultiChoice publicly challenged him for inaccurately claiming that there had been an agreed reduction in prices. They issued a press release denying this assertion,” Mr Owiredu stated.
He further argued that the company’s clarification proved the supposed breakthrough trumpeted by Mr. Sam George was nothing more than a short-term promotional package.
Mr. Owiredu also criticized the minister’s temperament, claiming his conduct revealed “a lack of temperament and emotional intelligence” required for a portfolio as sensitive as digital communications. He added that the minister sidelined key regulators like the National Communications Authority (NCA) and resorted to what he called “an arbitrary decision-making posture” that could undermine the growth of Ghana’s digital sector.
Accountability demanded
The Minority caucus also pressed the minister to explain the status of fines he claimed to have imposed on MultiChoice during the standoff.
“The minister owes Ghanaians clarity on how much was collected, where the money is, and how it has been applied,” Mr. Owiredu insisted, describing the matter as “a breach of the president’s code of conduct that requires candour and respect to all persons.”
Three demands
The Minority outlined three demands: that Mr. Sam George publicly apologize to Ghanaians, disclose details of the fines allegedly levied against MultiChoice, and step down—or be removed—from his position.
“For this display of ineptitude, incompetence, and penchant for deceit, we of the Minority demand that the minister render an unconfined apology to Ghanaians.
“We deem him unfit to continue as Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation and therefore call on him to resign, or for the President to fire him,” the Minority caucus declared.
