Govt Moves To Block Illegal Pay-tv Streams After DStv Price Cuts

According to a report by Citi FM, on Tuesday October 27, 2026, the Government of Ghana is preparing to intensify its fight against illegal pay-TV streaming services, with plans to block internet addresses associated with unauthorised access to television content once the necessary legal clearance is obtained from the Attorney-General’s Department.

Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, says the technical arrangements for the proposed enforcement measures have been completed, leaving the government to secure final legal approval before the operation begins.

The planned crackdown comes after the government reached an agreement with Canal+ and MultiChoice Ghana, operators of DStv, to introduce revised subscription packages aimed at making television services more affordable for Ghanaian households.

Speaking at a joint press briefing with the companies on Monday, October 26, 2026, Mr George indicated that the government was ready to move beyond discussions about subscription prices and begin taking stronger action against television piracy.

“The real clampdown is about to begin,” he said.

According to the minister, the National Communications Authority (NCA) and the Cyber Security Authority have reviewed the proposed interventions, including measures to block internet protocol (IP) addresses linked to illegal streaming activities.

He explained that the government had made the necessary technical preparations but wanted to ensure that every enforcement action was supported by a sound legal foundation.

“We’ve put in place the mechanism to be able to deal with those ramifications and we just need the AG’s all clear,” Mr George stated.

The minister stressed that obtaining the Attorney-General’s approval was essential because the blocking of internet addresses could have legal implications that must be carefully considered before implementation.

“Technically we’re good to go, we just want to make sure that we’re legally good,” he added.

Mr George, who is a lawyer by training, said he was determined to ensure that the government did not proceed without the required legal safeguards.

“I’m also a lawyer, I have no excuse. So let me get the attorney generals all clear so that I can proceed safely,” he said.

Although the government has completed much of the technical groundwork, the minister did not announce a specific date for the commencement of the enforcement exercise.

The planned anti-piracy operation follows sustained government engagement with Canal+ and MultiChoice Ghana over subscription costs and access to television content.

Under the new arrangement, DStv will introduce four revised subscription packages from November 5, 2026, with monthly prices ranging from GH¢50 to GH¢570.

The new pricing structure is intended to reduce the financial barriers that have encouraged some consumers to turn to unauthorised streaming services and devices.

The revised packages represent a significant part of the government’s broader approach to addressing concerns about affordability while protecting the commercial interests of legitimate broadcasters and content owners.

The latest development marks a shift in the government’s approach to the DStv subscription debate.

While earlier engagements concentrated on the cost of accessing television content, the authorities are now preparing to combine the lower subscription options with stronger measures against illegal distribution and streaming.

Illegal streaming platforms and devices, sometimes referred to as “ghost boxes”, can provide access to television channels and premium content without the required subscriptions or authorisation from rights holders.

The government intends to disrupt such activities through cooperation between telecommunications regulators, cybersecurity authorities and other relevant institutions.

However, the effectiveness of the proposed measures will depend on the ability of authorities to identify illegal streaming channels, implement the restrictions lawfully and prevent operators from quickly shifting to alternative methods of distributing unauthorised content.

The government has therefore emphasised the importance of completing the legal review before moving forward.

The planned enforcement measures are expected to affect people who rely on illegal streaming services to access sports, movies, entertainment programmes and other television content.

The government’s position is that consumers should have access to affordable legal alternatives rather than depend on unauthorised services.

At the same time, the proposed restrictions raise questions about how regulators will distinguish illegal streaming activities from legitimate internet traffic and ensure that enforcement does not unnecessarily affect lawful services.

The involvement of the NCA and Cyber Security Authority is expected to be important in addressing these technical and cybersecurity considerations.

Piracy can deprive broadcasters, content producers, filmmakers, actors and other industry professionals of revenue generated through authorised distribution and subscription arrangements.

By reducing illegal access, the government and industry operators hope to strengthen the sustainability of legitimate content production and distribution.

Despite the progress reported by the minister, the government has yet to provide a definite commencement date for the proposed blocking measures.

The Attorney-General’s opinion remains the key outstanding requirement before the enforcement operation can proceed.

Mr George has maintained that the government wants to ensure the process is legally sound before exercising its powers to restrict access to internet addresses associated with illegal streaming.

The revised DStv packages are scheduled to take effect on November 5, while preparations for the anti-piracy campaign continue.

The government’s approach combines improved affordability with tougher enforcement, with the stated aim of encouraging legitimate subscriptions and protecting the interests of content owners.

Whether the strategy will significantly reduce illegal streaming will depend on the implementation of the new prices, the effectiveness of the enforcement measures and the ability of regulators to sustain the campaign against unauthorised access to pay-TV content.

For now, the government says the technical preparations are complete, but the nationwide crackdown must await the necessary legal clearance.

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