Hallå,
Victoria from Techpoint here,
Here’s what I’ve got for you today:
- MultiChoice agrees to cut DStv prices in Ghana
- How this startup turns food into medicine
- CBK licences 27 more digital lenders in Kenya
MultiChoice agrees to cut DStv prices in Ghana
MultiChoice Ghana has finally agreed to cut DStv subscription prices after weeks of pressure from the government. How so? Ghana’s Ministry of Communications, Digital Tech & Innovation is teaming up with MultiChoice Ghana to tackle the high cost of DStv. They’ve set up a joint committee to negotiate lower subscription fees for viewers across the country.
The breakthrough was announced on Friday, September 5, by Ghana’s Minister of Communications, Sam George, following a tense standoff that nearly cost the pay-TV operator its licence.
George explained that the turning point came when MultiChoice submitted long-requested pricing data, including detailed breakdowns of bouquet costs, taxes, and comparisons with at least six other African countries. “That data gave us the evidence we needed to push for a fair outcome,” he said.
The government had earlier issued a tough ultimatum in August: slash subscription fees by 30% or risk suspension of operations. The directive also carried a GHC 10,000 daily fine for non-compliance. Officials argued that Ghanaians were paying significantly higher prices than other African countries, despite the cedi being one of the world’s best-performing currencies this year.
For context, DStv Premium in Ghana costs $83 compared to just $29 in Nigeria. MultiChoice initially resisted the directive, offering only to freeze current rates and halt profit repatriation. But George dismissed the offer, insisting that price cuts were the only fair option, especially given the cedi’s 40% appreciation against the dollar in 2025.
To move things forward, a stakeholder pricing review committee has now been formed. It includes representatives from the ministry, the National Communications Authority (NCA), MultiChoice Ghana, and MultiChoice Africa. While MultiChoice requested 30 days to settle on the exact cut, George insisted the process must conclude in just two weeks, with a September 21 deadline.
How this startup turns food into medicine
Balancing motherhood, marriage, and building a startup is no small feat. Honestly, I admire women who manage to do it all. Take Emma Grede, for example — founding partner of SKIMS, cofounder and CEO of Good American, and a guest judge on Shark Tank. She’s a mother of four and somehow makes the juggling act look seamless. My gawd! Parenting alone is demanding, but pairing it with running a business? That’s next-level.
Closer to home, Dr. Chibuzor Mariam Tochukwu makes it look just as effortless. Between raising four children and running Heritage Nutritional Consult, she’s showing that family and purpose don’t have to clash; they can actually grow side by side.
Heritage Nutritional Consult isn’t your typical health business. It’s a healthtech startup grounded in naturopathy — the belief that food itself can heal the body. “Food speaks to our cells,” she says, describing how organ-specific foods can naturally treat conditions. For her, drugs should only speed up healing, not replace the body’s natural process.
But Tochukwu isn’t stopping there. Together with her husband, she’s weaving artificial intelligence into the work. They’re building an AI-powered app designed to make nutritional consultations and meal planning smarter and more accessible. “We’re moving, step by step,” she explains.
The journey hasn’t been easy. AI engineering is costly, and not everyone they’ve brought on board has shared their long-term vision. Still, a breakthrough came recently when Tochukwu earned a scholarship from INSEAD, backed by Nvidia and Google. The programme unites founders from around the world to build real AI solutions, and she’s thrilled to see her ideas finally take shape.
While she leads the company, her husband, with his background in business IT, supports from the backend. “Working with a partner is a blessing, but one person always has to take the lead,” she reflects. For them, this isn’t just business; it’s a family mission to build something meaningful.
Her story is one of resilience, vision, and faith in natural healing. Curious about how Dr. Tochukwu keeps it all together? Catch the full feature in After Hours by Delight.
CBK licences 27 more digital lenders in Kenya
Kenya’s Central Bank (CBK) has just added 27 more players to its list of licensed digital lenders, bringing the total number of approved Digital Credit Providers (DCPs) in the country to 153. The announcement, made on Thursday, comes barely two months after 41 new providers were licensed in June.
The regulator says it has been swamped with applications — over 700 since March 2022 — and has had to carefully vet each one. CBK’s checks cover everything from business models and consumer protection to the credibility of shareholders, directors, and management teams.
Per the CBK, the licensing drive isn’t just about boosting numbers but making sure customers are actually protected. “We want to ensure the interests of borrowers are safeguarded,” the regulator noted, adding that other agencies and regulators have helped keep the process tight.
Digital lenders have been booming in Kenya, with 5.5 million loans worth KSh 76.8 billion ($594 million) disbursed by June 2025. Most of these loans come through mobile apps and USSD codes, covering needs like education, small business growth, asset financing, and short-term personal emergencies.
But it hasn’t been all rosy. Some lenders have been accused of predatory lending, charging sky-high interest rates, mishandling personal data, and using aggressive tactics to collect debts. Just last month, the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner asked CBK to revoke the licences of two firms accused of ignoring the rules.
It’s issues like these that pushed CBK to introduce strict licensing and oversight rules back in 2022. By tightening transparency, enforcing data protection, and improving governance, the regulator hopes to tame bad actors while still giving Kenyans access to quick, tech-driven loans.
In case you missed it
- Kenyan fintech Raise shuts down, migrates users to Carta
What I’m watching
- How To Build a Financial Plan (By Age)
- Ozempic’s Origin Story is Insane
Opportunities
- Flutterwave is hiring for several roles. Apply here.
- Paystack is recruiting a performance marketing specialist in Nigeria. Apply here.
- Kuda is hiring for several roles. Apply here.
- Kuda Technologies is hiring a Legal Counsel. Apply here.
- FairMoney is looking for a Head of Business Banking Product. Apply here.
- Moove is recruiting a Customer Success Executive. Apply here.
- Ecobank Nigeria is hiring a Chief Information security officer. Apply here.
- The Institute of African and Diaspora Studies at the University of Lagos is looking for a Junior Research Fellow. Apply here.
- MTN Nigeria is hiring an Operational Risk Specialist. Apply here.
- Co-Creation HUB (CcHUB) Nigeria is looking for a Head of Communications. Apply here.
- Group Vivendi Africa is hiring an IT Manager. Apply here.
- Sun King is hiring across different states in Nigeria. Apply here.
- Businessfront, the parent company of Techpoint Africa, is looking for a Managing Editor (FMCG). Apply here.
- Africa’s venture scene takes the spotlight at the Lagos Venture Finance Summit on September 5th, 2025. Hosted by Vencapital, the Summit gathers top LPs, GPs, policymakers and ecosystem leaders for high-level conversations, networking and dealmaking. A must-attend for those shaping Africa’s next wave of venture capital. Register here.
- Paystack is hiring for several roles in Nigeria and South Africa. Apply here.
- Paga is recruiting for several positions. Apply here.
- Moniepoint is hiring for several positions. Apply here.
- Are you building a startup can feel isolating, but with Equity Merchants CommunityConnect, you can network with fellow founders, experts, and investors, gaining valuable insights and exclusive resources to help you grow your business. Click here to join.
- Help us make Techpoint better for you! Your feedback shapes what comes next (your responses may potentially save my job. A bit dramatic, but still). It will only take 30 seconds to tell us what works and what doesn’t. Fill it here.
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- Follow Techpoint Africa’s WhatsApp channel to stay on top of the latest trends and news in the African tech space here.
Have a productive week!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa
