The Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has affirmed that the government’s efforts to revive AirtelTigo (AT) will centre on protecting jobs, attracting strategic partnerships, and implementing decisive reforms to restore the struggling telco to profitability.
Speaking during a working visit to AT’s headquarters last Friday, the Minister shifted the narrative from financial woes to workforce assurance, placing staff welfare at the heart of the state’s restructuring roadmap.
“We understand that the company is facing serious challenges, but we are determined not to sacrifice the welfare of the people who have kept it going,” Mr George said, referring to the over 300 permanent employees, 200 contract staff, and an estimated 10,000 indirect workers who depend on AT’s operations.
While AT continues to record monthly losses of GH¢20 million and carries a reduced—but still significant—debt burden of $200 million, Mr George emphasised that solutions are being crafted with people, not just profit, in mind. He added that the government was actively exploring investment opportunities and technical partnerships that could help rescue the company without triggering mass layoffs.
“We are not just looking at numbers—we are looking at lives. The resilience of the staff gives us hope, and any investment or restructuring will be aligned with their well-being,” he stressed.
The minister was critical of the initial acquisition of AT by the previous administration for $1, describing it as an ill-informed move that saddled the state with a company already $400 million in debt and equipped with obsolete infrastructure.
Despite these legacy issues, Mr George said there is renewed optimism. “We have a clear sense of where we are and what must be done. Within the next eight weeks, we expect to develop a concrete roadmap to stabilise AT and reposition it for sustainable growth,” he stated.
On the matter of spectrum allocation—a key issue in Ghana’s telecom landscape—the Minister reaffirmed that while AirtelTigo’s needs are recognised, spectrum would not be handed out as a favour.
“Spectrum is a national asset, and it must be paid for,” Mr George explained. “We’re currently assessing all operators through a spectrum rationalisation process. Any allocation to AT will have to make commercial sense.”
In the meantime, he reassured the public that President Mahama, a former Minister of Communications, is fully engaged and guiding the process, ensuring that both economic and human considerations shape the final outcome.
Mr George’s visit forms part of broader government efforts to address long-standing structural issues in Ghana’s telecom sector and deliver improved digital services without compromising the livelihoods of workers who keep the systems running.
