CUTS International, a consumer-focused agency, has urged MultiChoice Ghana, operators of Digital Satellite Television (DSTV), to prioritize consumer rights and satisfaction in their operations.

This follows MultiChoice Ghana’s announcement of a 15 per cent average subscription price increase across all packages, effective April 1, 2025.

For example, the Family package will rise from GH¢165 to GH¢190, Compact from GH¢330 to GH¢380, Compact Plus from GH¢495 to GH¢570, and Premium from GH¢750 to GH¢865.

The changes were communicated to subscribers on March 24, 2025, less than a week before taking effect.

In a statement signed by Mr. Appiah Kusi Adomako, West Africa Regional Director of CUTS International, the organisation criticised the short notice given to consumers to adjust.

“Respect for consumers is fundamental in any market, particularly where services are paid for in advance and on a recurring basis.

“Providing timely and transparent communication around price changes is not only fair and reasonable but also helps to build trust and foster good customer relationships,” the statement said.

The statement highlighted MultiChoice Ghana’s market dominance and urged them to avoid business practices that could disadvantage consumers.

MultiChoice Ghana holds a unique position in the market due to its access to premium competitive edge. However, with such market strength comes a heightened responsibility to ensure that business practices do not inadvertently disadvantage consumers.

“In markets where competition is limited, there is a greater risk of practices that may be perceived as exploitative or unfair,” it said

CUTS International cited a similar case in Nigeria, where the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) criticised MultiChoice Nigeria for inadequate notice of subscription fee changes.

As a result, the FCCPC directed the company to offer a one-month free subscription as a remedial measure.

“This case sets a useful persuasive precedent and reinforces the principle that consumers should be given sufficient time to adjust to changes that affect their financial commitments,” the statement noted.

The statement said since MultiChoice operates on a monthly subscription basis, it is widely seen as reasonable to give subscribers at least a month’s advance notice regarding price changes.

However, in Ghana, MultiChoice informed subscribers of the price hike via SMS and email on March 24, 2025, providing less than a week to adjust before the new prices were implemented.

“This short notice period may not have given subscribers adequate time to review their options or make necessary adjustments,” the statement said.

CUTS International emphasized the need for Ghana to enact a comprehensive Consumer Protection and Competition Act to empower consumers, ensure fair practices, and provide avenues for redress.

“It would also help ensure that service providers — especially those with significant market influence — operate in a manner that upholds consumer rights and welfare.

“We trust these observations will contribute to ongoing discussions about strengthening consumer protection in Ghana,” the statement said.

A delegation from the Conference of District Directors of Agriculture (CODDA), led by Hajia Habiba Yusuf, Regional Director of Agriculture, has called on Mrs. Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, Eastern Regional Minister. 

The visit served to congratulate her on her appointment and affirm CODDA’s unwavering support for her efforts to promote agricultural development in the region. 

This gesture underscores the strong partnership between the ministry and CODDA in advancing sustainable agriculture.

The Minister thanked the delegation for the gesture and acknowledged the role of CODDA in the implementation of the Government’s Agricultural Economic for Transformational Agenda (AETA) which is anchored on the 24-hour economy.

She highlighted the need for CODDA to play a leading role in revitalizing the Agricultural Sector through climate resilient agricultural technologies, and the need to recognize traditional leaders (Chiefs) as key stakeholders, especially in land acquisition and ownership in agricultural development in the region. 

Mrs. Awatey pledged her support to CODDA and called for more collaborations to enhance agricultural growth and development.

She said her office had already inaugurated a taskforce to clamp down activities of illegal miners, stressing on the potential threat and danger their activities posed to the forest, water bodies, lands and biodiversity. 

“I’m hopeful that together, we can improve the agriculture landscape,” she noted.

On her part, the Eastern Regional Director of Agriculture said the region had done well with its Eastern Commodity Satellite Market Fair, an initiative that links producers and processors to both local and international markets.

She called on all stakeholders and development partners to support this year’s fair, which is the fifth edition upon its inception.

She stated that the Regional Department of Agriculture remained committed to rolling out a number of initiatives aimed at promoting the growth and development of agriculture.

Among the key challenging issues she raised were, lack of adequate Agricultural Extension Agents to bridge the Agric Extension-Farmer ratio, effect of illegal mining on agriculture and climate variabilities. 

Mr. Stephen Boadi, President of CODDA, Eastern Region and the District Director of Agriculture in the Asene Manso Akroso District, said CODDA had played a role in the implementation of programmes, projects and policies of governments over the years. 

He said, “implementation of government policies in agriculture start at the district level hence the need to see CODDA as key to the development of Ghana`s Agricultural Transformational Agenda.”

He pledged CODDA’s readiness in spearheading the implementation of the Agricultural Economic for Transformational Agenda, aimed at modernizing agriculture, boosting local food production, promoting food security, creating jobs for the unemployed youth, and cutting down on food imports.

Mr Benjamin Zigorsh-Nyakpenu has assumed office as the First Deputy Registrar of Companies to assist the Registrar to ensure compliance with corporate regulations and implement new strategies to improve the office’s mandate.

His appointment is in line with Article 195 of the Constitution and Section 363(1) of the Companies Act, 2019 (Act 992).

Mr Zigorsh-Nyakpenu was officially introduced to staff of the office on Thursday during a meeting, a statement signed by Mrs Constance Adomaa Takyi, the Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications, on behalf of the Acting Registrar of Companies, said on Monday.

Mrs Maame Saama Peprah, the Acting Registrar of Companies, who did the introduction, welcomed him on behalf of management and expressed the hope that he would bring his expertise to bear on the operations of the Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC).

She said Mr Zigorsh-Nyakpenu’s appointment as Deputy Registrar was to further enhance the office’s operational efficiency and strengthen its commitment, recognising his experience and leadership abilities.

Mr Zigorsh-Nyakpenu expressed appreciation for the warm reception accorded him and assured management of his commitment to operate an open-door policy, encourage inclusive ideas, and foster knowledge-sharing to advance the overall interest of the ORC.

He encouraged teamwork and promised to be part of the team, adding: “Let’s see ourselves as a unit willing to work rather than as individuals that are needed.”

Mr Benjamin Zigorsh-Nyakpenu is a lawyer with extensive experience in corporate and commercial law, compliance, and regulatory matters.

He has built a strong background in banking and financial law, oil and gas, alternative dispute resolution, probate, and immovable property transactions.

He is skilled in legal consultancy, corporate structuring, and ensuring businesses meet statutory and regulatory obligations. He has practiced law at Thompson Law Consult, Hales Solicitors, and K-San Law.

The Deputy Registrar served in the Legal Department of the National Investment Bank Ltd., specialising in corporate lending, structured finance, and public sector transactions.

He is an expert in compliance and regulatory frameworks and has been a consultant to multinational corporations while continuing to provide strategic legal insights to businesses.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (Hons) from the University of Ghana (2008), an LLB (2011), and was called to the Bar in 2013 after completing the professional law course at the Ghana School of Law.

He also holds an LLM in Oil and Gas Law from the University of Ghana (2019).

As First Deputy Registrar, he will work closely with the Registrar to oversee the day-to-day operations of the office, ensure compliance with corporate regulations, and help implement new strategies aimed at improving the ORC’s mandate.

The ORC is the sole body responsible for the registration, regulation, and supervision of corporate entities in the country.

It is to provide efficient corporate registry services that ensure the integrity of the business and corporate environment while supporting economic growth and development.

Established by the Companies Act 2019 (Act 992), the ORC and its two deputies perform functions vested in them by this Act or any other enactment.

Section 363(1) of the Companies Act, 2019 (Act 992) states that: “The President shall, in accordance with Article 195 of the Constitution, appoint a Registrar, two Deputy Registrars, and any other staff for the Office of the Registrar of Companies that are necessary for the proper and effective performance of the functions of the Office.”

Tomato growers at Jinijini in the Berekum West Municipality of the Bono Region have appealed to the government to invest in tomato production in the area.

They also called on the government to revamp the defunct Weddi Africa Tomato Processing Factory set up in the area under the One-District-One Factory (1D1F) initiative of the previous administration.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Jinijini, one of the largest tomato producing communities in the Bono Region, the farmers regretted that since the factory was shut down from commercial production, it had left hundreds of the youth in the area jobless.

Mr Paul Ofosu, spokesperson for the tomato farmers told the GNA that tomatoes had become scarce in the area because growers lacked funds to go into commercial production.

He said with financial assistance, pumping machines and irrigation facilities, the farmers could grow the vegetable in commercial quantities, feed the factory and create jobs for the people.

Checks reveal that the factory, a wholly Ghanaian owned company constructed at the cost of $16 million was shut down from commercial operation because of lack of fresh tomatoes to feed it.

Hitherto, it was processing 40,000 metric tons of fresh tomato per annum, which translated into 720 crates of tomatoes per shift per day, with the factory also possessing a 500-metric ton cold room facility to hold fresh tomato fruits.

With the government’s 24-hour economy, the tomato farmers said reviving the factory would not only make the sector attractive but also boost local employment.

“That is why we are appealing to the government to give some financial assistance and logistics so that we can produce more to feed the factory”, Mr Ofosu stated, worrying that tomatoes were now scarce in the area because most of the growers lacked funds to go into commercial production.

“In fact, tomato farmers here are ready to increase production, only if the government will come to our aid”, he stated.

During a visit to the Jinijini market, traders lamented about the scarcity of tomatoes in the area nowadays and thereby affecting the price of the vegetable.

Madam Eunice Agyeiwaa, one of the tomato sellers said they had increased the price of the vegetable because they could not get some to buy from the farmers.

The GNA noticed that three balls of fresh tomatoes were selling at GH¢5, while six balls were going for GH¢10.

Many consumers were now opting for tomato paste instead of the fresh ones due to the market price increase.

Another trader, Akua Tawia told the GNA that the sellers now imported fresh tomatoes from neighbouring Burkina Faso for the local market due to the scarcity of the vegetable in the area, saying that had affected the price.

She said the price increase had also resulted in poor sales, adding that because there were no storage facilities quantities of the tomatoes went waste, leading to significant losses.