President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has criticised the handling of the DSTV impasse, saying the approach adopted by Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George was not well managed.

Speaking in an interview on Joy FM’s Newsnight on Wednesday, Mr Cudjoe said the issue should not have required the direct involvement of the Minister of Communications and Digitalisation.

According to him, the matter could have been addressed by the National Communications Authority (NCA) or a subordinate official, rather than escalating to the ministerial level.

“I do not like to see a regulator being like a bully and then basically harassing everybody around the place....I don’t understand why the minister actually became a poster child of DSTV,” he remarked.

While acknowledging that DSTV subscribers also deserve attention, the IMANI president stressed that there are more pressing challenges within the ministry, particularly expanding internet access for Ghanaians.

He expressed disappointment in the posture of the minister, who has been vocal on the issue, noting that his recent actions were out of character.

"I understand that those who enjoyed DStv are also Ghanaians but this whole thing was not handled well at all and I feel a bit worried because I know Sam is a bit meticulous, intelligent and quite precocious when he takes on issues but what I saw in the last couple of weeks, was not the Sam that I know.

“I think he should reflect soberly and say to himself that he will never, ever go down this path again with any client in his ministry,” he said.

Mr Cudjoe's remarks follow weeks of back and forth with the minister and MultiChoice as well as the heated exchanges between Parliament’s Communications Committee over DSTV subscription fees.