MTN Group has teamed up with Meta to improve voice and video call quality on real-time apps like WhatsApp across 12 African markets. The collaboration focuses on optimizing network performance through data analytics, testing, and targeted interventions to ensure a more stable and seamless user experience.
Since MWC 2024, both teams have worked to fine-tune network and app interactions. Nigeria is the first country to benefit, with early results showing a 50% improvement in key performance indicators.
MTN Nigeria’s CTO, Yahaya Ibrahim, praised the enhanced user experience, while Meta’s Diego Marí highlighted the partnership’s role in delivering advanced, efficient solutions.
MTN Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment to the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with the launch of “MTN SME Accelerate.” This year-long initiative, themed “Business Done Smarter, Faster, and Better,” aims to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of SMEs.
During the launch, Stephen Blewett, CEO of MTN Ghana, stated, “MTN is deeply invested in empowering SMEs. We understand the vital role they play in driving economic growth and job creation throughout Africa.” He emphasized the need for essential tools, resources, and support for these businesses to thrive in the digital age.
Angela Mensah Poku, Chief Enterprise Business Officer of MTN, highlighted that SMEs encounter several challenges, including digitization, access to credit, and a lack of capacity. She emphasized MTN’s commitment to extending the SME initiative from a month-long program to a year-long initiative. This change aims to ensure sustained engagement with the sector to ensure successful outcomes.
As part of its support for women in the SME sector, the launch also introduced the “MTN Adwumapa Bundle,” a package designed specifically for women-led SMEs. This special bundle, one of many specialized offerings available throughout the year, aims to facilitate network connections and provide exclusive access to market opportunities, including SME fairs and pop-up shops.
In her address, Ms. Margaret Ansei, CEO of the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), shared her agency’s plan to deepen the integration of technology into the operations of SMEs. She commended MTN for this initiative and expressed GEA’s commitment to partnering with MTN Business to grow SMEs and support Ghana’s economic development.
Under the “MTN Accelerate” initiative, MTN Ghana will roll out various programs aimed at empowering Ghanaian SMEs to expand and operate sustainably. Planned initiatives include expanded market activations and capacity-building sessions for SMEs in both formal and informal sectors. Additionally, there will be leadership trainings specifically for women in business. The initiative will culminate at the end of the year with an awards event called the MTN SME GROW AFRICA Awards (SMEGA Awards), which will recognize and assess the performance of SMEs over the year.
Attendees at the event included the Bulgarian Consul to Ghana, H.E. Nico van Staalduinen; H.E. Jean Claude Galea Mallia, Ambassador of Malta to Ghana; Her Royal Majesty Nana Esi Ninsin VIII, Queen Mother of Ekumfi; Dr. Joe Tackie, Board Chair of SME GrowAfrica & AfCFTA
Policy Network; Madam Saalai Manikam, SMEGA Board Member; and Charles Polet from OneAfrica.
MTN Business is focused on delivering innovative telecommunications solutions, tailored to the evolving needs of businesses. Some services for SMEs include: The Yello Biz service, MTN Business Messenger, SME Plus, Business Manager, Microsoft 365 suite and Business Website. Customers can engage MTN on any of these platforms toll free 100, call 0244308111, email at mtnbusiness.gh@mtn.com. Visit: mtn.com.gh/business or any MTN Office for your Yello Biz and stay connected everywhere you go.
Guest Speaker- CEO of GEA-Madam Margaret Ansei
Chief Enterprise Business Officer- Angela Mensah- Poku giving a welcome address
MTN Group is preparing to sell an additional 11% stake in MTN Nigeria to local investors, aiming to deepen local ownership and reduce its shareholding from 76% to 65%. The move builds on its 2021 sale of 575 million shares, part of a broader strategy to localize ownership across Nigeria, Ghana, and Uganda.
Group Chairman Ralph Mupita indicated the offer will launch once MTN Nigeria’s financial position stabilizes amid a challenging macroeconomic environment. Inflation in Nigeria rose to 33.1% in 2024, with the naira depreciating significantly against the dollar.
Despite these headwinds, MTN Nigeria reported a 36.1% increase in revenue to N3.36 trillion (USD 2.1 billion) in 2024. However, the company posted a net loss of N400.43 billion and has suspended dividend payments for the year.
MTN says it remains committed to sustainable growth and will continue to adapt to economic shifts while engaging stakeholders on future developments.
Cameroon’s Telecommunications Regulatory Board (TRB) is set to recover over $52 million in unpaid license fees and penalties from telecom operators, citing persistent regulatory non-compliance.
The TRB says the move aims to reinforce accountability, ensure adherence to market rules, and promote fair competition. “We are operationalizing the treasury’s preferential right to collect these long-standing debts,” said TRB board chair Justine Diffo after a recent meeting.
While no companies were officially named, industry sources suggest major players like MTN Cameroon, Orange Cameroon, and Camtel could be affected. These operators have previously faced sanctions for issues including poor network quality and incomplete SIM registrations.
The debt recovery initiative aligns with broader government efforts to improve digital sector governance, address consumer concerns over service quality, and attract greater infrastructure investment.
Zimbabwe’s telecoms regulator, POTRAZ, is calling for mandatory handset registration to enhance mobile money security and combat rising cybercrime. Speaking recently, engineer Hasha Myambo said the initiative would complement the country’s existing SIM card database by creating a national registry of mobile phone IMEI numbers.
The proposed system would allow authorities to block stolen or lost devices, helping reduce theft and prevent unauthorized network access. Myambo emphasized the need for stronger safeguards as more citizens come online and face digital threats.
POTRAZ is also engaging with ICT stakeholders to develop a national strategy that integrates digital tools into the country’s economic and social development, with a renewed focus on collaboration over regulation.
Ethio Telecom is driving a large-scale expansion of digital infrastructure, furthering their vision to be a leading provider of telecom and digital solutions. This expansion embraces the citizens’ rapidly growing demand for communication and digital solutions, supports the community’s sustainable growth and economic benefit, and creates a powerful platform to achieve the country’s digital transformation journey.
Beyond infrastructure construction, Ethio Telecom undertook proactive, study-based regional restructuring aimed at serving customers more closely, enhancing service delivery efficiency and customer experience, and increasing access to rapidly growing digital services. Based on this process and the understanding of the exciting potential market demand of the Southeast region, Ethio Telecom has now made structural adjustments aimed at generating significant economic benefits for both the region and the country.
The existing Southeast Region office, based in Adama, successfully covered a vast territory stretching from Bishoftu to the edge of East Bale, serving numerous towns, woredas, kebeles, and a large population. It effectively oversaw numerous mobile sites, extensive telecom infrastructure, and 128 service centers. Furthermore, the recent undertaking of significant large-scale network expansion and modernization works, including the construction of additional state-of-the-art 4G LTE Advanced network sites, created favorable conditions and wonderful potential for organizing this additional region.
Therefore, in order to better serve the customers, fully utilize the huge telecom and digital infrastructure developed in the area, and provide truly inclusive and efficient service, Ethio Telecom has established a new ‘South South-East’ region.
The new South South-East Region office, based in the welcoming city of Bale Robe, encompasses 3 administrative zones (Bale Zone, East Bale Zone, and part of West Arsi Zone), 29 woredas, 38 towns, and 471 rural kebeles. The new region is well-equipped with numerous mobile and fixed-line service sites deployed through recent large-scale telecom infrastructure expansion projects, service centers designed with accessibility in mind, and a dedicated team of human resources.
The areas administered by the new region boast extensive crop and flower farms, major industrial parks, significant livestock resources, rapidly growing towns, and various attractive tourism destinations. Therefore, this closer connection, combined with equipping the area with technology and digital solutions, will provide a notable boost to stimulating the country’s vibrant digital economy, reaching beyond the region itself.
The successful launch of operations for the South South-East Region office not only enables Ethio Telecom to serve customers closely, providing them with a superior experience, but also helps facilitate faster administrative decisions and streamline operational tasks. Furthermore, through dynamic collaborations with local government institutions, partners, and startups, we look forward to introducing impactful, problem-solving, and lifestyle-modernizing digital solutions and telebirr services for the local community. This commitment ensures inclusive and sustainable economic benefits and plays a vital role in powering the bright future of Digital Ethiopia.
Ghana’s journey toward a cash-light economy is progressing, though digital payment adoption among businesses remains uneven. A new report by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) and the ReFinD initiative reveals that 37% of firms nationwide use digital platforms, with usage highest in Greater Accra and other regional capitals.
While agriculture lags in adoption, the study—part of the 2024 Integrated Business Establishment Survey (IBES)—points to significant growth opportunities. Barriers such as limited digital literacy, security concerns, and taxation challenges like the e-levy are slowing uptake, especially among small enterprises.
Despite these hurdles, businesses using merchant accounts report better efficiency and revenue growth. Notably, female managers are associated with improved firm performance, though many women-led businesses still face capital constraints.
“This large gap between individual and business use tells us there’s strong potential if we address the barriers,” said Francis Annan, ReFinD co-lead. Professor Peter Quartey of ISSER echoed this, noting recent strides and the need to tackle existing constraints.
The report calls for expanded digital infrastructure, cybersecurity improvements, targeted incentives for female-led businesses, and stronger public-private collaboration. Kenneth Ashigbey, CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, stressed the need for inclusive financial products and deeper community engagement.
With smartphone penetration already high in areas like Wa, the path forward lies in boosting education, outreach, and tailored solutions—paving the way for a more digitally inclusive business environment in Ghana.
Ghana’s Digital Minister met with American Towers executives to enhance partnerships supporting digital infrastructure growth and national connectivity objectives.
Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Hon. Samuel Nartey George (MP), recently met with American Towers leadership to strengthen collaboration and acknowledge their support in Ghana’s digital infrastructure development
Present at the meeting were:
Marek Busfy – CEO, ATC Africa and Asia; Ashutosh Singh – CEO ATC Ghana; Lucretia Fontaine – Director, Public Affairs, ATC Africa; Nasreen Sooliman – Chief of Staff, ATC Africa; Enid Kanor – Executive Head of Legal, ATC Ghana; Bright Owusu Bempah – Chief Financial Officer, ATC Ghana; Akua Twumasi – Manager, Public Affairs, ATC Ghana; Madam Esther Cobbah – CEO, Stratcomm Africa
About 37.09 per cent of businesses in the country accept or use a digital payment system, with those in the agricultural sector having the lowest rate of adoption or usage, according to a report released by Retail Financial Distribution (ReFinD), a research entity, in Accra yesterday.
Also, the adoption of a digital payment platform is largely by the service sector – 38.4 per cent, industry 34.9 per cent and agriculture sector – 22.4 per cent.
Among industries in the formal and the informal sectors, the report indicated that 56.7 per cent make up the businesses that have adopted a digital payment; while 35.2 per cent constituted the informal sector.
The report, which is the first of its kind, was disseminated at the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), University of Ghana.
It further indicated that the adoption and usage of digital payments included all non-cash payments such as personal mobile money, merchant payments, QR Code, point of sale (POS) device, card payments, platforms and mobile or internet banking.
The report was generated in collaboration with the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) through a nationwide census of businesses in a 2024 Integrated Business Establishment Survey (IBES).
Sensitisation
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the Director of ISSER, Professor Peter Quartey, emphasised the need for extensive education on financial inclusion and the use of digital payment.
He explained that inadequate or lack of knowledge accounted for the non-adoption of digital platforms by most businesses.
“There are a number of reasons why adoption is low. One is the uncertainty in the business environment.
“There is also the cost element and taxation and a few other constraints limiting the ability to adopt digital payment.
“Overall, I think it’s one of the surest means of including the unbanked in financial services. I must say that although cash is still leading, we have made progress,” he said.
Prof. Quartey also mentioned impediments like the electronic transaction tax – E-levy, which he said had also affected the adoption of the digital payment, saying “if we had not implemented e-levy, the story would have been different”.
Significance
A Lead Researcher at ReFinD, Professor Francis Annan, said the report provided the country with a baseline of how the country could conceivably advance with respect to financial inclusion and adoption of digital payment.
He said although there were lot of barriers to cross, the financial sector and businesses must take the needed step to tackle head-on those barriers to increase financial inclusion performance of firms.
Prof. Annan encouraged firms to embrace new technologies and invest in minimising fraud as “fraud is such a very classic barrier.
Again, that requires a lot of engagement from regulators, commercial providers like MTN and other fintechs to think really hard about how to build a more resilient financial system”.
The GSMA lauded continued progress of mobile money adoption and use across the globe, stating milestones of 2 billion registered accounts and half a billion monthly active users were surpassed during 2024.
In its State of Industry Report on Mobile Money 2025, the organisation highlighted it took 18 years from launch in 2001 to achieve 1 billion accounts and 250 million monthly active users, but just five years to double these figures.
The total number of accounts in 2024 were up 14 per cent year-on-year to 2.1 billion and monthly active users 11 per cent to 514 million.
Around 108 billion transactions worth a total of almost $1.7 trillion were processed in 2024, a 20 per cent rise in payment volume and 16 per cent in value.
Use of mobile money services are reported as having a positive impact on GDP in countries where they are available.
Regionally, sub-Saharan Africa continued to lead the way as the most active area, with growth driven by new registered accounts and rising monthly activity in East and West Africa.
Elsewhere, the GSMA highlighted “notable strides” in East Asia-Pacific, which booked the second fastest growth rate for monthly active accounts.
While mobile money initially focused on in-store payments, utilities, remittance and airtime purchases, the research highlighted many providers are evolving their range to adjacent services.
Some have even become full financial services platforms.
Examples of products beyond payments being provided include credit, savings accounts and insurance.
As of June 2024, the GSMA found credit was the most common additional service, offered by 44 per cent of providers.
Barriers
Although outlining continued positive strides for mobile money in 2024, the GSMA noted barriers to further adoption.
In the 12 countries it assessed, eight were reported as exhibiting a gender gap in uptake, with “little improvement from 2023”.
Limited awareness and low digital financial literacy were listed as significant factors here.
GSMA director general Vivek Badrinath highlighted mobile money had “emerged as a powerful driver of financial inclusion and economic growth”, adding “its continued success depends on supportive regulatory environments that promote innovation, accessibility and help unlock the full socio-economic potential”.
“To ensure mobile money remains accessible, affordable, and safe, it is vital for governments and regulators to work with financial service providers to support financial literacy programs, empowering underserved populations and opening new opportunities for financial decision-making.”
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