Communication Minister Threatens Sanctions Against Telcos Failing To Improve Service By End of 2025

Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has issued a strong warning to telecommunications companies operating in Ghana, stating that they face potential sanctions and fines if network quality does not improve significantly by the end of 2025.

Despite widespread infrastructure across the country, the Minister said telcos continue to deliver subpar service, particularly in fast-growing urban and regional areas.

“We are not doing sentiments; we are doing engineering. If you have infrastructure in place but your service is poor, we must begin to take regulatory action,” Mr George emphasized.

He made the remarks on Friday, May 30, during a meeting in Accra with the CEOs and technical teams of MTN, Telecel, and AT. The meeting aimed to evaluate network performance and address growing concerns over service quality.

A detailed assessment by the National Communications Authority (NCA), covering 48 localities, was presented. The study examined four key performance indicators: 3G Coverage, Call Setup Time (CST), Mean Opinion Score (MOS), and 3G Data Throughput. The findings showed inconsistent service quality across all three telcos.

Highlighting specific problem areas like Amasaman and East Legon, Mr George, who is also the MP for Ningo-Prampram, noted that even parts of Accra are experiencing network blackouts and poor 4G quality despite increased coverage.

He announced that a comprehensive national quality-of-service test will be conducted in every district capital in the third quarter. If telcos fail to show clear improvements, regulatory actions will follow.

Operators were also informed that the government has already allocated spectrum, with a 30-day acceptance window ending June 30. Service improvements linked to this spectrum must be evident by the end of December 2025.

Importantly, the Minister stated that 40% of any fines imposed on defaulting telcos would be returned to affected consumers in the form of data or call-time bonuses—ensuring that the public is directly compensated for poor service.

“We know you can’t complete upgrades in three months, but we must see that the process has begun. The Ghanaian people must feel the impact of the spectrum rollout by year-end,” he said.

Data Pricing Strategy

Addressing the high cost of data, Mr George said a committee formed in February is developing a gradual roadmap to reduce prices—not through sudden cuts, but by increasing data value. The strategy will allow customers to receive more data for the same price, without destabilizing the market.

Telcos Respond with Improvement Plans

MTN Ghana CEO, Stephen Blewett, announced a $230 million investment in 2024 for network upgrades and IT systems. He revealed plans to open 300 franchise stores and recruit 400 new customer-facing staff with a GH¢25 million internal budget. He also outlined upcoming self-service features for SIM swaps and PIN resets with enhanced fraud protection.
Telecel Ghana COO, Mohamad Ghaddar, affirmed continuous network optimization and emphasized the need for more spectrum. Telecel currently operates 400 retail shops and plans to add 100 more. The company is also investing in accessibility services and remains open to feedback from regulators.
AT CEO, Leo Skarlatos, stated that major improvements are underway, with visible results expected in early 2026. He stressed the company’s commitment to transparency and invited stakeholders to observe progress firsthand.

As pressure mounts from both government and the public, Ghana’s telcos are now under strict watch to deliver tangible improvements in service quality—or face consequences.

Sam George threatens to sanction telcos over failure to improve service by end of 2025 https://t.co/0jOhFN39s7 @samgeorgegh pic.twitter.com/gJtt5Ghvru

— DailyGraphic GraphicOnline (@Graphicgh) May 30, 2025

Source: Nkonkonsa.com