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DC Kwame Kwakye Blog of Saturday, 6 September 2025
Source: KWAME KWAKYE
Mr. Benjamin Kofi Quashie, South African High Commissioner-designate, has weighed in on the current impasse between the Communications Ministry and Multichoice Ghana, describing it as a challenge which could impact diplomatic relations and investor confidence in Ghana.
He emphasized that the regulator’s demand for a reduction in DSTV service charges was acceptable and that the business entity must engage to resolve the issue.
Speaking on JoyNews on September 5, 2025, he highlighted that South Africa has been drawn into the controversy and is willing to amicably resolve the challenge. “The challenge could be resolved amicably in the boardroom rather than in the public domain,” Quashie said, adding that information he has picked up indicates that Pretoria wants to negotiate. He also noted that the Foreign Affairs Minister has been instrumental in engaging the Communications Minister to settle the matter.
In dealing with possible retaliatory actions from the South African government towards Ghanaian interests, the High Commissioner-designate noted it is a diplomatic matter and would be resolved. However, he admitted such actions could affect investor confidence, posing a grave challenge for envoys’ ability to woo investors for Ghana. “Though it’s a challenge, John Mahama and his administration will resolve the matter in the days to come,” he stated.
Mr. Quashie observed that the Ministry had done an assessment of the pricing regime in the sub-region for DSTV services and concluded that Ghanaians were unfairly paying higher prices compared to their counterparts. This, Quashie believes, ought to be resolved to mutually benefit the Ghanaian people and the company, regardless of the fact that DSTV will be exiting the Ghanaian market. “Even if they’re going, diplomatically, it’s not good for the optics and also not good for them to leave on a bitter note,” he stressed.
In resolving the matter, Quashie asserted that the interests of Ghanaians and Multichoice ought to be paramount in these discussions. “We need to marry the interests of Ghanaians and that of Multichoice and amicably resolve the matter. The company has agreed to a reduction but only disagrees with the framework. Both parties can sit to agree on the way forward,” he noted.
Further, he dismissed suggestions that diplomats have failed to help resolve the matter, praising the Minister for Foreign Affairs for being heavily engaged with his South African counterparts in finding solutions to the problem. “The Minister for Foreign Affairs has extensively engaged his South African counterparts… we’re not at war with you, but only want the right things to be done. With Okudjeto in there, the matter will be resolved,” Quashie averred.
