President John Dramani Mahama has ordered an immediate ban on DSTV and other satellite television subscriptions at the Jubilee House, citing the need to curb unnecessary government spending and promote fiscal discipline.
According to a high-level source within the presidency, the directive is part of a broader initiative by the President to eliminate non-essential expenditures across all government departments. The measure, effective immediately, will see all DSTV decoders and satellite TV services at the seat of government deactivated. Staff and officials have been instructed to access only local terrestrial channels for information and official communication.
“The President is leading by example,” the source said. “We cannot continue spending thousands of cedis on luxury services when the country is facing significant economic challenges. Every cedi counts.”
President Mahama is reportedly planning to extend the ban to cover all ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) by the end of July 2025. This follows an internal audit which revealed that government offices spend an estimated GH¢15 million annually on satellite TV subscriptions alone.
In a brief comment during a meeting with government communicators, President Mahama emphasized that austerity must begin from the top, and all public officials must show commitment to the national cost-cutting drive.
The announcement has sparked mixed reactions. While some civil society organizations have applauded the move as a step toward prudent governance, others argue that access to international news channels is essential for informed policymaking.
Still, the presidency insists the ban is non-negotiable and necessary in the current economic climate. Further audits are expected to identify and cut other non-critical expenditures in the coming weeks.
Source; Opera Newsll
