Matthew Nyindam
The minority members of the parliamentary committee on Communication and Information have rebutted the recent comments by the Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, accusing him of arrogance and inconsistency over the ongoing DStv impasse.
In a press statement signed by the Ranking Member, Matthew Nyindam, the minority members said they were not surprised by Mr. George’s remarks during a JoyNews interview, describing his posture as “arrogant, disrespectful, and pompous.”
According to the minority MPs, they have remained diligent in their work on the committee and had formally written to the chairman, a majority member, requesting a meeting to deliberate on the impasse with MultiChoice Ghana.
They stressed that it was the chairman’s duty to summon committee meetings, not ordinary members.
The minority further reminded the public of Mr. George’s earlier statements regarding the issue, in which he declared that he would not accept any form of package upgrades from DStv but would push for a price reduction of no less than 30 percent.
“He once stated in a media encounter that the meeting with the Ghanaian and South African team would not end without an agreed price reduction. He was clear that an upgrade was not what we wanted,” the statement noted, questioning why Sam George’s position now appeared to have shifted.
The minority therefore demanded to know why the minister and committee leadership had altered their original stance on securing a price reduction.
They also asked how much government had collected from the GH¢10,000 levy imposed on DStv since its inception.
Addressing Sam George’s criticisms of the minority members, the statement dismissed his remarks, saying they would not seek an apology because “it is a trait too expensive for him to afford.”
The Minority MPs reaffirmed their commitment to their legislative responsibilities, and insisted they are “dedicated professionals who take their work seriously and remain available for scheduled meetings.”
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliamentary Correspondent