The government is saving GHC120,000 every month following a decision to scrap all satellite television subscriptions at the Jubilee House, Minister of State for Government Communications, Felix Ofosu Kwakye, has disclosed.
Speaking during an interview on JoyNews, Mr. Kwakye explained that the cost-cutting measure is part of President Mahama’s broader “reset agenda” aimed at reducing unnecessary public expenditure and promoting transparency across state institutions.
“When we came to the Jubilee House, there were subscriptions to satellite television in addition to the local channels that we watch. When we took stock of how much it costs to pay for the satellite subscription, we noticed that in a month, we spent GHC120,000. Just paying for subscriptions to satellite channels,” he said.
The minister described the expenditure as wasteful and unsustainable, especially in the face of critical developmental needs.
“Do you know what GHC120,000 can do?” he quizzed, adding that the same amount could be channeled into solving water problems in communities by “fixing pumps or replacing materials needed for water supply.”
President John Dramani Mahama Saves GH₵120K Monthly by Cancelling Inherited Satellite Subscriptions at the Presidency #GTVBreakfast#NewsFlash#GTVNews pic.twitter.com/7nM16zVJtQ
— GTV Ghana (@GTV_Ghana) June 20, 2025
The cancellation of the satellite TV services is not limited to DSTV alone but includes all paid satellite television platforms that were previously active at the seat of government. Mr. Kwakye confirmed that no office within the Jubilee House is currently permitted to subscribe to such services.
He further revealed that the policy would soon be rolled out across other government agencies and departments.
“You would say that that is a trivial matter, but he has done that. Because when you computed the cost, it was significant money,” he stated, referring to President Mahama’s commitment to responsible governance.
“You can turn on the television that you see here, you will find that I’m only limited to local television stations. It is something that will be extended to all government agencies to ensure that we don’t waste the taxpayers’ money,” he added.
Mr. Kwakye indicated that additional cost-saving measures were under consideration and would be made public in due course. He emphasized that the current administration remains determined to eliminate excesses in government spending.
“This is a man deeply committed to making savings for the Ghanaian people. Governance necessarily involves taking tough decisions… but the citizenry must see corresponding levels of modesty on the part of government officials—and that’s what President Mahama is committed to doing,” he said.
The government’s “reset agenda,” he explained, is anchored on economic recovery and social transformation. One of its first actions included downsizing the number of ministers to 56, four less than President Mahama’s self-imposed 60-minister cap.
This announcement comes at a time when DSTV subscribers across Africa have been hit with a 15–18% hike in subscription fees, effective April 1, 2025. The increase affects all major packages, including the Premium, Compact, and Family bouquets, with the most notable being the DStv Lite package, which jumped by 18%, from GHC50 to GHC59.
Multichoice, the parent company of DSTV, attributed the price adjustments to rising inflation and broader economic challenges on the continent.
