• MTN, Telecel, and AT to invest $150 million in network improvements by end-2025
• Move follows public complaints and government pressure to improve service quality
• Internet quality in Ghana ranked 98th out of 120 countries in 2024 index

MTN, Telecel, and AT (formerly AirtelTigo), Ghana’s main telecom operators, have pledged to invest around $150 million to upgrade their networks by the end of 2025. This was announced on June 10, by Samuel Nartey George, Minister of Communication, Digital Technologies, and Innovation, during a press conference held with the CEOs of the involved companies.

The investment commitment comes in response to rising consumer frustration, often shared on social media, regarding the poor quality of telecom services. Although the National Communications Authority (NCA) has not confirmed these complaints in recent reports, international data paints a different picture. According to the "Digital Quality of Life Index 2024" by Lithuanian tech company Surfshark, Ghana ranked 98th out of 120 countries for internet quality, with a score of 0.06, falling 12 places from its 2023 ranking.

Surfshark defines internet quality based on the speed and stability of a nation’s connection, as well as how these metrics improve over time. According to the company, slow and unstable internet reduces productivity and everyday efficiency, while fast and stable connections enable better communication and content delivery.

The government’s push seems to have influenced the operators’ decision, although the exact nature of the investments has not been disclosed. To ensure accountability, the Ministry announced that the NCA would carry out a full assessment of service quality in the final quarter of 2025. Sanctions may be applied to operators that fail to meet the required standards.