MTN Ghana is set to inject more than $1.1 billion into its telecommunications network over the next three years, in a major infrastructure expansion aimed at improving coverage and accelerating the rollout of 5G services across the country.
The investment, disclosed by the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, is expected to support the deployment of new cell sites while addressing persistent connectivity challenges, particularly in rural and peri-urban communities.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series in Accra on Monday, September 7, the Minister said about $380 million of the planned investment would be deployed in 2026 towards network expansion, additional cell sites and 5G infrastructure.
According to him, MTN Ghana plans to build 800 new cell sites, representing the company’s largest annual network expansion programme in a decade.
The initiative is expected to significantly increase network availability in communities that have historically experienced weak or unreliable telecommunications services.
Mr George said the scale of the investment reflected MTN Ghana’s commitment to responding to rising demand for reliable and high-speed connectivity as more Ghanaians depend on digital services for business, education, financial transactions and other economic activities.
He disclosed that 180 of the 800 planned sites are already active and carrying traffic, indicating that implementation of the expansion programme is already underway.
The Minister said the government worked with Members of Parliament to identify communities and locations experiencing the most severe network challenges.
He described the exercise as the first time such constituency-level mapping had been undertaken on such a large scale, allowing network expansion to be directed towards areas with the greatest connectivity gaps.
The investment will also support the expansion of MTN Ghana’s 5G infrastructure as Ghana seeks to increase access to faster and more reliable digital connectivity.
Mr George said the government remained focused on creating an environment that would enable telecommunications operators to expand infrastructure while ensuring that underserved communities were not left behind.
The planned investment comes amid growing pressure on telecommunications networks as demand for mobile data and digital services continues to rise.
With the rollout of the new sites and 5G infrastructure, the government expects network capacity and coverage to improve, particularly in communities that have faced persistent connectivity difficulties.
The Minister said the ongoing expansion formed part of broader efforts to strengthen Ghana’s digital infrastructure and ensure that telecommunications services keep pace with the country’s evolving digital economy.
