Led by Telecel  Business, the month-long campaign themed “Connect to Growth: Unlock More,” will take practical  business support, digital solutions and growth opportunities to SMEs across Ghana, with activities focused on skills, technology, market access and networks.

Speaking at the launch, the Acting Director of Enterprise Business at Telecel Ghana, Nii Lartey said the focus this year is deliberately shifting to helping businesses grow and remain sustainable.

Starting a business is one thing, but growing, sustaining and turning it into a thriving business is where the struggle lies for many SMEs. Telecel Business has built practical tools, knowledge, systems, connections and opportunities to help emerging businesses level up,” Lartey said.

According to the Ghana Statistical Service, the country had more than 2.6 million business establishments as of March 2026, with about 92% operating as informal micro businesses. Telecel Ghana believes the data highlights the need to help more businesses move from small and informal operations to sustainable and scalable enterprises.

Partnering with the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) on a Train-to-Scale initiative, the free regional training programme covers business skills, mentorship, content creation and Telecel Cash Merchant training, to give selected SME owners practical skills to grow their businesses.

Speaking at the launch, Madam Habiba Sumani, Head of MSME Development Directorate of GEA said, “We believe that digital inclusion is central to inclusive economic growth. When entrepreneurs can access reliable connectivity and understand how to use digital tools effectively, they are better able to reach customers, lower transaction costs, access information, build professional networks and participate more meaningfully in local and global markets. We commend Telecel’s leadership in recognising the important role of SMEs in Ghana’s development.”

A key highlight of the month will be The CEOs Unscripted with Delay, an insightful conversation with founders of thriving businesses on the realities of building and scaling, including their mistakes, setbacks, technology choices and growth strategies.

This year’s SME Month will go beyond Accra, with the Telecel Business Runway, a game-changing experience for existing SMEs, start-ups, financial advisors and investors heading to the Western Region.

According to the Head of SME at Telecel Ghana, Alfred Neizer, this year’s SME Month is championed by its flagship product, The Boss Plan, a product built to accelerate digital transformation for SMEs with a high-volume, non-expiry data and voice bundles as well as a built-in customer outreach and SMS marketing tool.

As businesses grow, they need more data, better communication and simple ways to stay connected to their customers. The Boss Plan gives SMEs all three in one solution, helping them run their businesses more efficiently and focus on growth,” Neizer said. “We want entrepreneurs to adopt a digital solution, make a valuable connection, access an opportunity or improve the way they operate.”

The 2026 Telecel SME Month builds on Telecel’s previous SME Month programmes, which have evolved from capacity building and women-focused entrepreneurship to youth entrepreneurship, AI training, business showcases, networking and digital business solutions.

SMEs across Ghana are encouraged to sign up to the Boss Plan through the Telecel Play App or by dialing *5959 #.

The commitment was highlighted at a Regional Media and Stakeholder Forum held in Tamale, which brought together media practitioners from the Northern, Savannah, Upper East and North East Regions to discuss developments in the telecommunications industry and MTN Ghana’s contribution to Ghana’s digital transformation.

Addressing participants, Emmanuel Afutu, Senior Manager, Network Projects Implementation at MTN Ghana, expressed appreciation to the media and stakeholders for their partnership over the past three decades and acknowledged their contribution to MTN Ghana’s growth and success.

Thirty years ago, a mobile phone was a luxury. A signal was a miracle. Today, connectivity has become an essential part of everyday life, enabling people to access information, transfer money, grow businesses and connect with opportunities,” he said.

Afutu noted that MTN Ghana’s journey over the past 30 years has been driven by a commitment to connecting people and enabling progress. He said the company currently serves more than 32 million subscribers and continues to invest significantly in strengthening its network and enhancing customer experience. “MTN Ghana is investing US$1.1 billion over the next three years, including approximately US$380 million in 2026, to enhance network capacity, improve service quality and strengthen the resilience of its infrastructure. As part of this investment, MTN Ghana is deploying 500 new sites nationwide, including new sites in the Northern, Savannah, Upper East and North East Regions.”

We believe that the true value of connectivity is measured not only by the sites we build or the technology we deploy, but by the opportunities it creates and the lives it touches,” he added.

Afutu also highlighted MTN Ghana’s strong business performance in the first half of 2026, noting that service revenue grew by 32.3% to GH¢15.0 billion, while EBITDA increased by 47.1% to GH¢9.3 billion. Profit after tax also rose by 46.8% to GH¢5.1 billion, reflecting the resilience of the business and the strength of its strategy.

In addition to its strong financial performance, MTN Ghana contributed GH¢5.6 billion in direct and indirect taxes and GH¢384.7 million in fees and levies during the first half of 2026, underscoring its significant contribution to national development.

As MTN Ghana celebrates its 30th anniversary under the theme, “30 Years of Progress, Powered by You,” the company remains committed to expanding connectivity, enabling digital inclusion and creating shared value for customers, communities and the nation. Through continued investment in network infrastructure, innovation and sustainable growth, MTN Ghana aims to support Ghana’s digital transformation and contribute meaningfully to the country’s socio-economic development.

In a departure from its previous consumer promos, which crowned a single grand prize winner, this year’s campaign will award GH¢1 million to three lucky customers, which translates into announcing a new millionaire for three distinct months during the 4-month promo.

Organised in partnership with digital company Kunim Global, the promotion will reward 12,000 daily draw winners with GH¢100 each, up to 48 weekly draw winners with GH¢20,000 each, and three grand prize draw winners with GH¢1 million each, making it one of the largest consumer reward campaigns in Ghana’s telecom sector.

Aneth Muga, the Director of Consumer  Business, said this year’s promo is intended to encourage greater use of its digital ecosystem and ensure broader national participation.

Our customers choose Telecel every day, and this promotion is our way of rewarding that loyalty in a meaningful way. This year’s is getting bigger and more digital. Instead of announcing one lucky millionaire at the end of the campaign, we are announcing three millionaires. We are rewarding customers across every region of the country, especially those who use our Telecel Cash and Telecel Play App for transactions,” Muga said.

Participation is free and open to all Telecel customers, who can opt in for free by dialing *500#, sending WIN to 500, or activating the promotion through the Telecel Play App. Every GH¢10 or more recharge, bundle purchase, or cash deposit earns entries into the daily, weekly, and monthly draws, with customers receiving additional entries for using Telecel Cash and the Telecel Play App.

The Telecel M’ahitti Promo introduces higher incentives for customers using the network’s digital channels. Customers who purchase airtime or bundles through Telecel Cash receive double entries, and those who join through the Telecel Play App receive bonus entries, with transactions on the digital platform also attracting double entries.

Weekly winners will be selected from all sixteen regions, giving customers across the country an equal opportunity to win, regardless of location.

Every draw will be conducted under the supervision of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) Caritas platform to ensure transparency and compliance. Speaking at the launch, Marketing and Caritas Officer at the NLA, Christiana Antwi, said the Authority’s role is to ensure that every stage of the promotion complies with regulatory requirements and that winners emerge through a transparent and independently supervised process.

The NLA is proud to provide regulatory oversight during the course of the promo to ensure transparency and integrity of all the draws and winners. Telecel has complied with all regulatory requirements for the commencement of the promo, and we will continue to work closely to guarantee every draw is conducted fairly and transparently,” she said.

The telecommunications giant has advised customers to remain vigilant against fraud by engaging only through their official channels throughout the promotion. Muga emphasised that participation in the Telecel M’ahitti Promo is free and winners will never be asked to make any payment, give up their Telecel Cash pin, or pay processing fees before receiving their prizes.

All Telecel customers can join the Telecel M’ahitti Promo by dialling *500#, texting ‘WIN’ to 500, and activating their subscription via the Telecel Play App.

Speaking during MTN Bright Conversations at MTN House, Accra, Mr Acheampong said the home has evolved into the centre of work, learning, entertainment and entrepreneurship, making dependable home connectivity critical to the country’s digital transformation. “The home is now the centre of many things. It is where people work, learn, run businesses and access entertainment. As a technology company, we have a responsibility to provide the digital infrastructure that enables people to live and thrive in the digital economy,” he said.

He explained that while mobile internet has transformed communication over the years, changing consumer behaviour has created a growing need for dedicated home broadband services capable of supporting multiple users and devices simultaneously.

Many people first think of mobile internet when they think about connectivity, but today’s home has become a digital hub. Families are streaming content, children are attending online classes, professionals are working remotely and small businesses are operating from home. That requires a different level of connectivity,” he noted.

Acheampong said MTN’s long-term investment in digital infrastructure is aimed at ensuring customers enjoy reliable connectivity that supports every aspect of modern living.

We are not just investing in faster internet. We are investing in an experience that allows people to live their digital lives without interruption. Whether you are attending a virtual meeting, helping your child with online learning, monitoring your home security system or running a business from your living room, the network should simply work.”

Addressing the common perception that internet quality is measured only by speed, he stressed that customers value consistency and reliability above all else.

Customers do not wake up thinking about megabits per second; they simply want internet that works. Speed is important because it reflects the strength of the infrastructure behind the service, but what truly matters is the experience. When you switch on your television, join a video call or access online services, everything should happen seamlessly.”

Acheampong also challenged the notion that fibre broadband is only meant for affluent households, describing it as an essential service that creates opportunities for every family.

There is a misconception that fibre is for a privileged few, but that isn’t the case. We have seen families in modest communities investing in home internet because they understand what it means for their children’s education, their businesses and their future. Reliable connectivity gives people access to opportunities that were previously out of reach.”

He said the value of home internet goes beyond entertainment, enabling households to access educational resources, support remote work, expand small businesses and improve productivity.

The conversation should not be about the monthly cost alone. It should be about the value reliable connectivity creates. The real cost is when your internet fails during an important business meeting or your child misses an online lesson because the connection is unstable.”

Acheampong added that MTN is continually improving the customer journey by making it easier for customers to check fibre availability, apply online, pay digitally and receive installation within committed timelines. He also encouraged customers to pay attention to proper router placement to enjoy the best possible Wi-Fi experience at home.

Looking ahead, he said Ghana is gradually moving beyond connected homes towards intelligent homes, where technology will increasingly anticipate and support everyday living.

In the years ahead, homes will become even more intelligent. Technology will learn people’s routines, automate everyday tasks and create more convenient living experiences. Building that future starts with reliable digital infrastructure today.”

Speaking at the Bright Media Conversations (BMC), Richard Acheampong, Chief Home Officer of MTN Ghana, said consumers ultimately judge internet service providers by whether the service works seamlessly when they need it.

According to him, while broadband speed remains an important technical measure, customers are more concerned about uninterrupted connectivity that supports their everyday activities.

The first thing customers want is internet that works,” he said.

Acheampong explained that delivering that experience requires substantial investment in network infrastructure that customers rarely see, including fibre-optic cables, street cabinets, transmission equipment and advanced digital technologies.

Using a water supply analogy, he said consumers do not worry about the size of underground pipes; they simply expect water to flow whenever they open a tap.

The only thing customers expect is that when they switch on their service, it works. Behind that simple experience is significant investment in infrastructure,” he explained.

He said MTN has focused on building a network capable of supporting modern digital lifestyles, from video conferencing and online learning to home security systems and ultra-high-definition streaming.

The company currently offers broadband speeds of up to 500 Mbps through its fibre and wireless home internet services.

However, Acheampong said speed should not be viewed as an end in itself but rather as the capacity needed to deliver a consistently high-quality customer experience.

We are confident about the experience we deliver because we have invested in the infrastructure behind it. Speed is important because it enables the experience we promise.”

He noted that reliable home internet allows professionals to participate in virtual meetings without interruptions, students to attend online classes effectively, households to stream digital content seamlessly and entrepreneurs to run businesses from home.

Acheampong said MTN’s objective is to ensure customers enjoy dependable connectivity every day, describing consistent digital experiences as the company’s most important value proposition in an increasingly connected world.

The Bright Media Conversations is an initiative designed to provide journalists and the public with insights from experienced industry leaders on issues shaping Ghana’s economy, technology and society.

The refreshed packages offer customers speeds of up to 100Mbps, 300Mbps and 500Mbps, enabling homes to support multiple online activities simultaneously, including remote work, virtual learning, video streaming, gaming and smart home applications.

The new plans, available to both new and existing fibre customers, come with unlimited data and flexible subscription options designed to meet the needs of different households and internet users.

Speaking on the new offering, Richard Acheampong, Chief Home Officer of MTN Ghana, said the packages were developed in response to changing customer needs and the increasing reliance on high-speed internet in homes.  He said ” Home Internet connectivity has become an essential part of everyday life. Whether it is supporting children with online learning, enabling professionals to work remotely, helping entrepreneurs run their businesses or allowing families to stay connected and entertained, customers need a service that can keep pace with their lifestyles.

As MTN marks 30 years of impact in Ghana, we are committed to ensuring that every home has access to reliable, high- speed internet that empowers people to live, learn and work better”, he added.

The new fibre plans provide customers with the freedom to choose speeds that best suit their needs while enjoying the convenience of unlimited browsing. Under the revised packages, customers can subscribe to the GHS299 plan per month and enjoy speeds of up to 100Mbps. GHS444 plan per month and enjoy speeds of up to 300Mbps, GHS999 plan per month and enjoy speeds to 500Mbps.

Customers who opt for longer subscription periods will also benefit from discounted rates. Quarterly subscriptions attract a five per cent discount, while semi-annual and annual subscriptions offer discounts of seven per cent and ten per cent respectively. The packages can be purchased through the MyMTN App, MTN’s Self-Service Portal and the *5057# shortcode.

The introduction of the new speed-based Unlimited Fibre packages reinforces MTN Ghana’s efforts to provide innovative connectivity solutions that respond to the evolving needs of households while supporting digital inclusion and economic growth.

The phrase “Artificial Intelligence” may be one of the most misleading terms of the modern era.

Embedded within those two words is an assumption so deeply ingrained that most people never stop to question it: that intelligence is naturally human and only artificially machine.

But what if that assumption is fundamentally wrong? What if intelligence never belonged exclusively to humans in the first place? What if intelligence is not a characteristic of a particular species, but a phenomenon that emerges wherever information can be captured, remembered, interpreted, and applied?

For centuries, humanity has placed itself at the center of intelligence. We have treated intelligence as our defining trait the unique gift that separates us from every other form of life. Yet nature has been quietly challenging that belief long before the first computer was ever conceived.

A plant turns toward sunlight without instruction. A bird migrates thousands of kilometers across continents with astonishing precision. An ant colony coordinates labor, allocates resources, and responds dynamically to threats without a central commander. A school of fish changes direction instantaneously as though controlled by a single mind.

None of these systems possess what we traditionally describe as human consciousness, yet all demonstrate the ability to sense, adapt, learn, and respond. In other words, intelligence appears to exist independently of human beings.

Perhaps intelligence was never human. Perhaps it was always natural.

This raises a deeper question. If intelligence is not exclusively human, then what exactly makes machine intelligence “artificial”?

The answer may have more to do with history than reality. When computer scientists began building systems capable of performing tasks associated with human reasoning, they needed a name for the emerging field. Because these capabilities were being demonstrated by machines rather than biological organisms, the term *Artificial Intelligence* was born.

The label survived. But labels can become traps.

When an airplane flies, we do not call it “artificial flight.” When a submarine moves underwater, we do not call it “artificial swimming.” When a calculator solves equations, we do not call it “artificial mathematics.” We simply recognize that familiar outcomes can emerge through different mechanisms.

Perhaps intelligence deserves the same treatment. The intelligence of a human brain is biological. The intelligence of a corporation is organizational. The intelligence of a society is collective. The intelligence of a market is distributed. The intelligence of a machine is computational.

The medium changes. The intelligence remains.

This distinction may seem subtle, but it fundamentally changes how we think about the future.

For generations, intelligence was viewed primarily as a property of individuals. The smartest person in the room was assumed to be the most valuable source of insight.

Yet history suggests something very different. Civilizations did not become powerful because individual humans suddenly became smarter. Ancient Egyptians were not less intelligent than modern engineers. Greek philosophers were not intellectually inferior to contemporary scholars.

What changed was not the intelligence of individuals. What changed was the ability of societies to preserve, accumulate, and transfer experience across generations.

A scientist today benefits from thousands of years of accumulated knowledge. A surgeon relies on centuries of medical discoveries. A modern entrepreneur stands on lessons learned by millions of businesses before them. The true engine of intelligence may not be individual brilliance at all.

It may be accumulated experience.

Viewed through this lens, intelligence emerges whenever four elements come together: Information; Memory; Feedback; Adaptation

A system observes its environment. It remembers what happened. It learns from outcomes. It adjusts its behavior. Intelligence begins to emerge. The formula applies everywhere.

To organisms. To organizations. To economies. To civilizations. And increasingly, to machines.

This is where the conversation becomes controversial.

For decades, humanity has comforted itself with the belief that machines could never truly become intelligent because intelligence was assumed to be uniquely human. Yet every time machines outperform humans in a particular domain, we simply redefine intelligence. When calculators surpassed humans in arithmetic, we decided arithmetic was not real intelligence. When computers defeated world chess champions, we concluded chess was not real intelligence. When machines became better at pattern recognition, language translation, medical diagnostics, and image analysis, we once again moved the goalposts.

Perhaps the question is not whether machines are becoming intelligent. Perhaps the question is whether humans are willing to recognize intelligence when it appears in a form different from themselves.

History offers many examples of humanity underestimating intelligence when it emerged in unexpected places. Entire civilizations once dismissed other cultures as intellectually inferior, only to later discover sophisticated systems of governance, engineering, astronomy, and mathematics. Again and again, intelligence was overlooked because it did not look familiar.

Could we be making the same mistake with machines?

Consider another uncomfortable possibility. No human being who has ever lived not Aristotle, Newton, Einstein, or Da Vinci had access to as much accumulated knowledge as modern AI systems can process.

For the first time in history, we are building systems capable of participating in humanity’s knowledge loop at extraordinary scale. They absorb information. They identify patterns. They generate insights. They improve through feedback.

Whether we choose to call this artificial intelligence, machine intelligence, digital intelligence, or something else entirely may become increasingly irrelevant. The deeper reality is that intelligence is no longer confined to biology. And perhaps it never was.

The implications stretch far beyond technology. If intelligence is fundamentally the product of information, memory, feedback, and adaptation, then every institution becomes a potential intelligence system. Every company. Every university. Every hospital. Every government. Every community.

The question is no longer whether intelligence exists within these institutions. The question is whether they are retaining enough experience for intelligence to emerge.

Most organizations generate enormous amounts of knowledge every day through meetings, decisions, successes, failures, customer interactions, reports, and observations. Yet much of this experience disappears the moment people resign, retire, or move on. The result is organizational amnesia. The same mistakes are repeated. The same problems are solved repeatedly. The same lessons are learned over and over again.

In many cases, institutions do not suffer from a shortage of intelligence. They suffer from a shortage of memory. This may be one of the defining challenges of the twenty-first century.

The next frontier may not be creating smarter machines. It may be creating systems that remember. Systems that preserve context. Systems that accumulate experience. Systems that continuously learn from their own history. Perhaps civilization itself offers the ultimate example.

No single person understands every component of a modern economy, a smartphone, an airline network, or the internet. Yet collectively, humanity does. Civilization functions as a distributed intelligence system. The intelligence does not reside in any one individual. It emerges from the network. It emerges from shared memory. It emerges from accumulated experience.

And that realization may ultimately reshape how we think about both humanity and technology.

Because if intelligence can emerge wherever information, memory, feedback, and adaptation exist, then intelligence is not a possession. It is a process. A process that can emerge within a brain. Within an organization. Within a society. Or within a machine.

The implications are profound. Because if intelligence is not limited to biology, then the challenge of our age is not merely to build better AI: It is to build better systems of memory. Better systems of learning. Better systems of collective experience.

The organizations, communities, and nations that learn fastest from accumulated knowledge may ultimately outperform those with the greatest wealth, population, or natural resources.

The future may belong not to those who possess the most intelligence, but to those who are best able to retain, refine, share, and apply it.

And if that is true, then perhaps the most important question of our time is not whether machines can think. Perhaps it is whether humanity has finally begun to understand what intelligence really is.

The writer Kwesi Amoafo-Yeboah is the Chairman, iZone Limited; Dodo Technologies Limited; BlueCloud Networks Limited

He made the remarks during a fireside chat with   broadcaster Bernard Avle at the 3i Africa Summit held at the Destiny Arena in Accra.

Ralph said Africa’s rapid progress in mobile money and digital financial services provides a strong foundation for the continent to transition into a more advanced and integrated digital finance ecosystem.

We are moving from mobile money to true digital finance. Across Africa, we have seen tremendous growth in financial inclusion, but the next phase will be defined by more sophisticated, app-based, and technology-driven financial systems,” he said.

He noted that the evolution of digital finance will go beyond basic payments to include digital credit, remittances, embedded finance, and emerging innovations such as artificial intelligence and blockchain-enabled services.

According to him, Africa is no longer catching up but actively shaping the global direction of financial innovation. “Africa is poised to lead in the global digital finance evolution. The scale of adoption, the pace of innovation, and the unique market dynamics we are seeing across the continent position us strongly for the future,” he stated.

He highlighted the role of telecommunications companies in driving financial inclusion, noting that telcos have been able to reach underserved populations more effectively than traditional financial institutions. “Telecom-led platforms have been critical in democratizing access to financial services. They have enabled us to reach customers at scale and at a cost structure that traditional models struggled to achieve.”

Ralph Mupita also stressed the importance of regulatory certainty, consumer protection, and innovation-friendly policies to sustain the growth of digital finance across African markets. “The key is balance, between enabling innovation and protecting consumers. Regulation must be clear, forward-looking, and supportive of responsible growth.”

Now in its third year, the 3i Africa Summit is anchored in Innovation, Investment, and Impact, with discussions across virtual assets, tokenisation, artificial intelligence, open banking, and digital public infrastructure. The 2026 3i Africa Summit, was organised by the Bank of Ghana (BoG), the Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS), and the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN) with support from MobileMoney Fintech LTD. The summit convened policymakers, regulators, fintech leaders, and investors under the theme “The Next Frontier: Shaping Africa’s Integrated FinTech Future.”

Speaking at the anniversary launch, Ghana’s Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel George, congratulated the company for its contribution to the country’s telecommunications growth over the past three decades, describing the milestone as a reflection of Ghana’s broader digital transformation journey.

Reaching three decades is a significant milestone for any enterprise,” he said. “On behalf of the government of Ghana and the people of Ghana, I extend our congratulations to the board, management, staff, agents, partners and customers of MTN Ghana.”

According to the Minister, Ghana’s telecom sector has evolved from “a handful of fixed lines in the early 1990s to a modern, mobile-first, data-driven ecosystem” serving millions of subscribers nationwide.

George praised MTN’s role in expanding connectivity, deploying fibre infrastructure and deepening financial inclusion through mobile money services.

He highlighted the company’s recent announcement of a US$1.1 billion investment programme, the localisation of 30 per cent of its shareholding to Ghanaians, and its continued contribution as one of the country’s largest corporate taxpayers as evidence of its long-term commitment to Ghana.

However, the Minister stressed that MTN’s dominant position in the telecom market comes with greater responsibility.

Your market position brings responsibility, and as minister, I would not be doing my job if I did not speak to them frankly on this occasion,” he stated.

He noted that consumers continue to raise concerns about the cost of data, inconsistent network coverage outside major cities, dropped calls and unresolved customer complaints.

These concerns are real, and the celebration of 30 years does not exempt the operator from them,” he said.

George expressed optimism that MTN’s ongoing investments would begin delivering visible improvements in network quality and customer experience from the third quarter of the year.

On Ghana’s digital future, he said the next decade would be shaped by 5G deployment, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, Internet of Things technologies and digital public infrastructure.

The Minister disclosed that government was targeting a nationwide 5G rollout ahead of Ghana’s 70th independence anniversary celebrations, adding that Cabinet had approved the removal of restrictions that previously prevented MTN from participating in the 5G space.

We are committed to ensure that MTN plays a critical role in the 5G landscape,” he said.

George also acknowledged challenges facing telecom operators, particularly fibre cuts and infrastructure vandalism, saying government and regulators would continue working with industry players to address them.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of MTN Ghana, Stephen Blewett, said the anniversary celebration was ultimately about customers and employees who had contributed to the company’s growth over the years.

It’s about celebrating our customers, our own people who have worked tirelessly to bring us where we are,” he said in an interview after the launch.

Blewett said one of MTN’s biggest achievements had been expanding and modernising its network while making mobile money services more secure and accessible.

He revealed that the company would invest US$380 million this year alone as part of the broader US$1.1 billion infrastructure programme over the next three years.

Last year we built 50 new sites. This year, 800,” he said. “So that’s really giving more connection, more availability and focusing on improving the quality of the network.”

As part of the 30th anniversary celebrations, Blewett announced that customers would benefit from several promotions and rewards between June and December, including data packages, smartphones and vehicle giveaways.

Speaking on the future of telecommunications, the MTN Ghana CEO said emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and 5G would fundamentally reshape how consumers interact with digital services.

We’re moving into an AI world,” he said. “You may get to a point that you only have an AI assistant. You have no apps. The world’s going to change, and we have to go along with that.”

He also emphasised the company’s commitment to sustainability through renewable energy investments and greener network infrastructure.

During his address at the launch, Mr. Blewett reflected on MTN Ghana’s journey since entering the market in 1996, describing connectivity as more than technology.

Connection is opportunity. Connection is dignity. Connection is hope,” he remarked.

He said mobile money had transformed financial access for millions of Ghanaians, while the company’s network became an essential national infrastructure during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our contribution to Ghana is not abstract, it’s measurable,” he noted.

The MTN Ghana CEO added that the company’s long-term strategy, dubbed “Ambition 2030”, would focus on connectivity, fintech and digital services to support Ghana’s digital economy and empower young people.

As we move forward, our responsibility is clear — to use technology to expand opportunity, power young people and help Ghana compete in the digital world,” he said.

By Kofi Ahovi

The Chief Executive Officer of MTN Ghana, Stephen Blewett, has sounded the alarm over what he describes as a growing crisis of fibre-optic cable cuts, revealing that recent disruptions have taken 157 network sites offline across the country.

Speaking at the MTN Ghana Accra Media and Stakeholder Forum on April 17, 2026, Blewett said the scale of the damage goes far beyond isolated service interruptions, significantly affecting connectivity for millions of users.

It’s not just about cutting fibre to a home. When fibre is cut, it brings down multiple sites, and that’s problematic. The experience becomes poor, and we have to proactively manage that,” he explained.

He noted that many consumers underestimate the impact of fibre cuts, assuming disruptions are limited to the immediate area. However, due to the interconnected nature of modern telecom infrastructure, a single cut can trigger widespread outages across several communities.

Fibre-optic cables serve as the backbone linking multiple cell towers to central network systems. As a result, damage—whether caused by road construction equipment or acts of vandalism—can lead to cascading failures across entire network zones.

Blewett described the situation as a major operational challenge, undermining significant investments made by MTN in expanding 4G and 5G services nationwide. He warned that the persistent disruptions pose a serious threat to service reliability, especially as demand for data continues to surge.

The issue, he said, is largely driven by uncoordinated road construction works and deliberate cable theft or sabotage—problems that continue to plague the sector.

Beyond inconvenience to individual users, the MTN CEO stressed that the impact is far-reaching, affecting critical services such as businesses, healthcare delivery, and emergency response systems that depend on stable connectivity.

This is not just about social media access. It affects hospitals, businesses, and essential services that rely on constant connectivity,” he noted.

MTN is now pushing for fibre-optic infrastructure to be designated as Critical National Infrastructure, a move that would impose stricter penalties on individuals or entities responsible for damaging the cables.

The call comes as Ghana intensifies efforts to advance its digitalisation agenda, with industry players urging stronger coordination between government agencies and construction firms to prevent recurring disruptions.

Stakeholders warn that without urgent action, the continued damage to fibre networks could slow down the country’s digital transformation and weaken confidence in its telecommunications infrastructure.