The Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations Minister Samuel Nartey George (widely known as Sam George) took the stage at Jubilee House for another edition of the Government Accountability Series. The platform exists for one clear purpose: to give Ghanaians a direct, detailed account of what ministries are delivering with public resources and public trust.
This appearance follows his earlier briefing in the series and covers the period from January to August 2026. George walked through achievements, ongoing work, and the real pressures facing Ghana’s digital infrastructure. The tone was deliberately straightforward successes were highlighted, but so were fibre cuts, power instability, and the gap between basic coverage and usable digital access.
George opened with the issue that affects ordinary Ghanaians most: the cost and value of everyday digital services. On pay-television, the enhanced-value DStv packages negotiated in 2025 remain fully in force. Prices have not quietly reversed, and households continue to benefit from the improved offerings.
On mobile data, earlier engagement with network operators produced measurable volume increases: MTN raised data allocations on its bundles by 15 percent, while Telecel and AirtelTigo each raised theirs by 10 percent. In practical terms, every cedi spent now buys more data than it did previously.
Fixed broadband saw even sharper movement. MTN cut the price of its 100 Mbps unlimited fibre package from GH¢987 to GH¢299 a reduction of up to 70 percent and introduced higher-speed tiers at 300 Mbps and 500 Mbps. Telecel also revised its fixed data pricing. The result is that both mobile and home internet users are receiving more for less. These outcomes reflect a deliberate shift: the Ministry positioning itself as a negotiator for consumers rather than a passive regulator of operators.
Expanding Connectivity and Modernising Infrastructure
Ghana’s digital ambitions rest on reliable connectivity. George was candid that many communities still face congestion and coverage gaps the legacy of years in which regulation lagged behind the country’s rapid shift from voice to data.
Several concrete steps were reported:
- The National Communications Authority carried out the most significant reform of Ghana’s 5G policy in recent years. The wholesale exclusivity framework was removed in July 2026, and spectrum applications were opened in the 700 MHz, 2.3 GHz and 3 GHz bands.
- Voice over LTE (VoLTE) adoption nearly tripled, reaching more than 8.4 million subscribers and improving call quality and data performance.
- Regional free-roaming arrangements advanced: the agreement with Gambia is operational, memoranda with Liberia and Sierra Leone have been signed, and technical work with Burkina Faso is under way.
- Private investment responded. MTN committed more than US$1.1 billion over three years (including roughly US$380 million in the current year) for approximately 800 new cell sites — its largest annual build in a decade with particular focus on rural and peri-urban areas. Constituency-level mapping identified priority locations, and 180 of those sites are already live. Telecel increased capital expenditure significantly and expanded its site footprint.
- National smartphone penetration stood at 71.8 percent as of June 2026, underscoring rising demand and the need for continued capacity investment.
A central priority is upgrading rural networks. Many existing sites still operate on 2G or 3G technology. While these support voice and basic SMS, they cannot reliably handle mobile money, digital agricultural advice, e-learning, or telemedicine. The Ministry is prioritising conversion of these sites to 4G-capable infrastructure, supported by appropriate backhaul, so that rural communities gain genuine digital access rather than nominal coverage.
The US$50 million Ghana Digital Acceleration Project, supported by the World Bank, has moved into active procurement for last-mile connectivity to 270 government facilities, including 170 Community ICT Centres. Procurement is also advancing for the National Data Exchange Hub intended as an integrated one-stop platform for government services and for modernisation of the National Data Centres in Accra and Kumasi. The National Communications Authority is opening new regional offices in Cape Coast and Wa, expected to become operational by October 2026.
Accountability includes acknowledging problems. George outlined three compounding pressures on the network:
1. Fibre cuts — Industry projections point to more than 8,500 cuts nationwide in 2026, with thousands already recorded in the first half of the year. Uncoordinated excavation, especially linked to road construction under the “Big Push” programme, is the dominant cause. Repair costs are substantial. A joint Cabinet memorandum with the Ministry of Roads on a “Dig Once” policy (requiring fibre conduits to be installed during new road works) is expected to be considered soon.
2. Power instability — Incidents such as the Akosombo transmission fire, flooding, and grid outages have driven temporary spikes in cell-site outages of up to 30 percent.
3. Rising demand — Rapid growth in smartphone ownership and data usage continues to place load on infrastructure that is still being expanded. These issues are not presented as excuses. They are framed as structural constraints that require coordinated government action if the gains in coverage and pricing are to be sustained.
Additional updates included:
- Ghana Post delivered 85,638 passports directly to applicants’ homes between January and July 2026, bringing the cumulative total since the service began to nearly 191,000. Logistics capacity has been strengthened, and the organisation has earned international recognition for performance and customer care.
- A contract was signed in August 2026 to digitise 3.5 million public records held by the Ghana Public Records and Archives Administration Department, advancing the shift away from purely paper-based systems.
- George was confirmed as the next Chair of the African Union Specialised Technical Committee on Communication and ICT for a two-year term beginning in October 2026. Ghana will also host the 15th Africa Internet Governance Forum in Accra later this year.
For ordinary citizens, the most immediate effects are lower effective costs for data and pay-TV, together with gradual improvement in network reach and quality. For rural communities, the emphasis on upgrading from legacy technology to usable 4G connectivity is particularly significant it determines whether people can participate in mobile money, digital markets, education, and health services.
For businesses and investors, the 5G policy reform and the scale of operator commitments signal a more competitive and investment-friendly environment. For government itself, progress on shared digital infrastructure (data exchange hub, data centres, digitised records) supports the broader goal of more efficient, interoperable public services.
The Accountability Series format itself remains useful. By requiring ministers to report in public on both results and remaining obstacles, it creates a clearer baseline against which future performance can be measured.
Sam George’s September 2026 address presents a mixed but measurable picture: tangible consumer gains, accelerated private investment unlocked by regulatory change, deliberate focus on rural modernisation, and honest recognition of the physical and power-related constraints that still disrupt service. The test now is whether the policy direction, investment commitments, and coordination mechanisms announced continue to translate into reliable, affordable digital access for more Ghanaians in the months ahead.
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