Passage of Competition Law Key to Tackling DSTV’s Market Dominance – CUTS International
The West Africa Regional Director of CUTS International, Appiah Kusi Adomako, has renewed calls for the passage of Ghana’s long-pending competition law, describing it as the most sustainable path to addressing MultiChoice’s (DStv’s) alleged market dominance in the country’s pay-TV sector.
According to Mr Adomako, the lack of effective competition in the broadcasting industry has allowed MultiChoice to wield unchecked market power—enabling the company to set high subscription prices and restrict consumer choice without fear of competitive reprisal.
He noted that MultiChoice’s influence over pricing and content output is a classic case of market dominance, which, in the absence of competitive pressure, often results in consumer exploitation and reduced innovation in service delivery.
Ghana’s draft competition bill has remained idle for several years despite consistent advocacy from civil society and market watchers.
In view of the recent development, Mr Adomako is urging policymakers to prioritise its passage, warning that regulatory directives alone—such as the recent call for DStv to cut subscription prices by 30%—are insufficient in addressing the root cause of market imbalances.
“While regulatory directives, like the one calling for a 30% price cut, might offer temporary relief, they don’t address the root causes of the problem. A comprehensive competition law is needed to create a sustainable solution,” he stated.
Drawing from global precedents, Mr Adomako referenced South Africa and Germany, where competition authorities have intervened in the pay-TV market to curb anti-competitive conduct—particularly in the area of exclusive content rights.
“In Germany and South Africa for instance, competition authorities have intervened in the pay-TV market to address similar issues of exclusive content rights and market dominance. These interventions demonstrate that regulators can effectively promote fairer market outcomes through competition law,” he added.
Beyond consumer protection, Mr Adomako emphasised that a fully functional competition regime would stimulate innovation, enhance consumer choice, attract investment, and drive long-term economic growth.
He further called for the establishment of a dedicated and independent competition authority, properly resourced and empowered to enforce the proposed legislation.
With mounting public criticism over DSTV’s pricing, Mr Adomako insists that the time for legislative inertia is over. He underscored that the dual implementation of a competition policy and law would ensure fairness, transparency, and efficiency in Ghana’s pay-TV market.
