• The Ghanaian government and Nokia are exploring a partnership to strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure and prepare for 5G deployment.
• Discussions focused on cooperation in 5G rollout, fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) connectivity, data center development, and digital public safety systems.
• The initiative could add around 40 billion cedis ($2.8 billion) to Ghana’s economy by 2029, according to GSMA.

The government of Ghana is seeking to deepen its collaboration with Finnish technology company Nokia to accelerate the development of the country’s digital infrastructure.

The talks, held on October 14 between a Nokia delegation and Samuel Nartey George, Ghana’s Minister of Communication, Digital Technologies, and Innovation, aimed to identify strategic areas for cooperation. The two sides first initiated discussions earlier this year on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

According to a statement from the ministry, the meeting explored partnerships in 5G deployment, fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) expansion, data center development, and digital public safety systems.

Digital infrastructure remains critical to expanding telecom and internet services in Ghana. The deployment of 5G—which has faced delays but is expected by the end of 2025—requires a dense network of telecom towers and high-performance equipment.

The new mobile standard is expected to deliver speeds up to 100 times faster than 4G, lower latency, and greater network capacity. Analysts view it as a key driver of Ghana’s digital transformation, enabling real-time connectivity and supporting applications such as smart agriculture, e-health, and fintech innovation.

According to the GSMA, Ghana’s digital transformation could contribute about 40 billion cedis to the national economy by 2029. The organization said digitalization enhances value addition in agriculture, improves access to global value chains, strengthens the delivery of health and education services, and reduces transaction costs in both the public and private sectors.

GSMA also noted that digital systems improve efficiency and transparency in public service delivery, a priority for the Ghanaian government as it expands e-governance initiatives.

The discussions between Nokia and Ghana remain exploratory, with no formal agreement signed or announced yet. Both sides expressed their intention to deepen cooperation over the next 12 months, focusing on innovation, rural connectivity, and sustainable infrastructure development.

This article was initially published in French by Isaac K. Kassouwi 

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum