The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority in Parliament has called for the dismissal of the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Sam George, for engaging in deception for misleading Ghanaians and mishandling negotiations with MultiChoice over DStv pricing.
Addressing a news conference in Accra on Thursday, October 2, Deputy Ranking Member on the Communications Committee of Parliament, Mr Charles Owiredu, stated that the minister’s claim of securing a 30% price reduction on DStv subscriptions was false, as MultiChoice later clarified that the offer was only a temporary promotion.
According to him, the incident showed “poor judgment and a lack of candour” on the part of the minister.
“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 pointed out.
He said the company’s latest clarification confirmed that the supposed breakthrough announced by the minister was only a promotional package.
Mr Owiredu added that Sam George’s conduct demonstrated “a lack of temperament and emotional intelligence” for such a sensitive role.
He further accused the minister of sidelining regulators like the National Communications Authority (NCA) and adopting what he described as an “arbitrary decision-making posture” that threatens the growth of the digital industry.
Accountability demanded
The Minority caucus has also asked Mr Sam George to account for fines he claimed to have imposed on DStv 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 stated.
According to him, actions by Mr Sam George amounted to “a breach of the president’s code of conduct that requires candour and respect to all persons.”
Three key demands
The Minority group has made three key demands, asking Mr Sam George to issue an apology to Ghanaians, provide full disclosure of the fines allegedly imposed on MultiChoice, and step down from his position or be dismissed by the President.
“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 stated.
By Collins Adu-Gyamfi
