Why Ghanaians Still Pay the Most for DSTV Premium in Africa.Despite a Stronger Cedi

bernard boateng
Aug 4
2 min read

In 2025, DSTV Premium subscribers in Ghana are paying a steep $82 per month, making it the most expensive DSTV Premium package on the continent. A detailed breakdown of the pricing reveals that taxes account for a substantial $18.5, but that’s only part of the story.

🔍 DSTV Price Breakdown Across Selected African Countries

**Why Ghanaians Still Pay the Most for DSTV Premium in Africa Despite a Stronger Cedi**

Country	Base Price (USD)	Tax (USD)	Total Price (USD)
Ghana	63.5	18.5	82
Liberia	55.5	5.5	61
Botswana	53.5	7.5	61
Eswatini	45.2	6.8	52
South Africa	44.3	6.7	51
Angola	29.0	4.0	33
Nigeria	27.0	2.0	29

Source: taxsummaries.pwc.com

💰 Why Is Ghana Paying So Much?

The high cost of DSTV Premium in Ghana is driven by a combination of factors:

Multiple Layers of Taxation: Ghana imposes VAT (15%) and a Communication Service Tax (CST) of 5%, among others pushing the tax component to nearly a quarter of the total price.
Forex Volatility Buffer: DSTV Ghana prices are dollar-pegged, which historically helped Multichoice hedge against the cedi’s depreciation.
No Local Pricing Flexibility: Unlike countries like South Africa and Nigeria where pricing is adjusted locally and in local currency, Ghana’s USD-denominated pricing model exposes consumers more sharply to international price hikes.

📈 But the Cedi Has Been Gaining Strength. So Why No Price Cut?

In recent months, the Ghanaian cedi has shown signs of appreciation against the US dollar, buoyed by improved fiscal discipline, reduced central bank financing, and external inflows from the IMF and Gold-for-Oil policy. Despite this macroeconomic improvement, DSTV prices have remained unchanged.

This raises a key concern:

If the dollar-cedi rate was a justification for raising DSTV prices during depreciation, shouldn’t the same logic apply now that the cedi is stronger?

📢 Time for a Price Review?

While it's valid to acknowledge Ghana's high tax environment, the burden shouldn't rest solely on consumers. DSTV should consider:

Passing on forex gains by adjusting the base price downwards.
Reviewing its pricing model to reflect local purchasing power, especially for premium packages.
Engaging with government stakeholders to streamline taxes on digital services to improve affordability and access.

🚨 Conclusion

Ghanaians are not just paying the most for DSTV, they're also paying in a context where taxes are high and price relief from recent currency gains has not been passed on. With the cedi recovering and inflation stabilizing, it's a good time for both government and DSTV to rethink the pricing model.

Whether it's through lower taxes or a fairer base price, the goal should be to ensure that digital entertainment remains accessible, affordable, and fairly priced.