Sam George: Fintech Now a Key Pillar of Ghana’s Economic Infrastructure

Ghana’s Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Sam Nartey George, has underscored the growing importance of fintech, describing it as a key part of the country’s economic infrastructure rather than merely an emerging technology sector.

Speaking at the launch of the MoMo Tech Lab in Accra, he called for stronger collaboration among academia, startups, developers, investors, regulators and financial institutions to develop practical solutions to Ghana’s economic challenges. He noted that mobile technology and digital financial services have expanded access to payments and other financial services, creating opportunities for millions of Ghanaians, including traders, farmers and young entrepreneurs.

The Minister stressed that the growth of fintech must be supported by strong consumer protection, cybersecurity, data privacy and regulatory compliance. He also encouraged universities, industry professionals and investors to play a greater role in supporting young innovators and transforming promising ideas into sustainable businesses.

The three-month MoMo Tech Lab will identify and nurture fintech talent across Accra, Kumasi and Tamale, providing participants with mentorship and support to develop commercially viable solutions. The initiative is expected to strengthen Ghana’s fintech ecosystem, promote innovation, create jobs and support the continued growth of the country’s digital economy.

Source : www.graphic.com.gh

Ericsson and SoftBank Demonstrate AI-Powered 5G Network Gains in Japan

Ericsson and SoftBank Corp. have conducted Japan’s first validation of Ericsson’s AI-native Scheduler for Link Adaptation on a commercial 5G network, demonstrating how artificial intelligence can improve network performance in real time.

The trial, conducted using Ericsson AI in RAN software, recorded gains of up to 25% in spectral efficiency and 50% in downlink user throughput compared with conventional technology. Across all evaluated locations, both measures improved by approximately 10% on average.

Ericsson’s AI-native technology applies real-time AI decisions within the radio access network (RAN), enabling networks to respond more effectively to changing radio conditions, interference and congestion. This can help improve connectivity for users in challenging locations while allowing operators to accommodate more traffic using existing frequency resources.

The validation marks an important step in Ericsson and SoftBank’s collaboration toward AI-native RAN, 5G Advanced and future 6G networks. Ericsson said the results demonstrate the potential of telco-grade AI to deliver measurable improvements in network performance, efficiency and user experience while supporting the growing connectivity demands of AI-powered services.

Source : www.ericsson.com

Telecel Dream Car Promo Enters Final Weeks with GH¢20,000 in Monthly Cash Prizes

The 15th cycle of the Telecel Dream Car Promo is entering its final weeks, with four customers winning a combined GH¢20,000 in monthly cash prizes as excitement builds towards the grand finale.

The latest winners — Selvin Nana Takyi Otoo, Benjamin Tackie, Mensah Hage Appiah and Gideon Klu — received GH¢10,000, GH¢5,000, GH¢3,000 and GH¢2,000 respectively. The cash rewards are part of Telecel Ghana’s efforts to give more customers opportunities to benefit throughout the six-month promotion.

For Selvin Nana Takyi Otoo, the GH¢10,000 prize comes at an important time as he awaits admission to tertiary school while supporting his mother’s bakery business. Other winners also expressed their excitement, highlighting their interest in the daily trivia challenge.

Telecel Ghana’s Digital and Value-Added Services Manager, Catherine Manteaw, said the promo remains an important way for the company to recognise and reward customer loyalty, encouraging customers to continue participating as the grand prize remains up for grabs.

Now in its 15th cycle, the Telecel Dream Car Promo has awarded customers eight vehicles, six houses and thousands of cash prizes over the years. The current campaign runs until 31 August 2026, with the overall top scorer set to win a brand-new Hyundai Creta.

The SMS-based trivia competition is open to Telecel customers, who can participate by sending CAR to 2018 or dialling *2018#. The promotion is run in partnership with Vasmol and supervised by the National Lottery Authority through its Caritas Platform.

Source : www.businessghana.com

Ericsson and MediaTek Achieve High-Precision 5G Positioning Breakthrough

Ericsson, in collaboration with MediaTek, has achieved what it describes as a world-first end-to-end test of high-precision outdoor positioning over a commercial 5G network. The test demonstrated positioning accuracy of less than 30 centimetres using a handset’s built-in antenna, marking a significant step forward in advanced 5G location services.

The breakthrough uses standardised 3GPP technology for GNSS Real-Time Kinematic (RTK), with correction data delivered over a 5G network using the LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP). Based on 3GPP Release 16 standards, the solution supports both unicast and broadcast delivery, enabling accurate positioning without proprietary systems or specialised additional hardware.

Ericsson provided the 5G Core, Network Location and radio network technologies powering the test, while MediaTek’s latest 5G modem processed GNSS corrections in real time. The technology could enable new applications across autonomous vehicles, drones, industrial robots, smart manufacturing and intelligent devices, where highly accurate location data is critical.

Ericsson’s Head of Product RAN Software, Johan Hultell, described the achievement as a milestone for the 5G ecosystem, highlighting its potential to make high-precision positioning more accessible to device manufacturers and enterprises. The collaboration further demonstrates Ericsson’s role in advancing 5G and unlocking new possibilities for connected industries. Source : www.mobileeurope.co.uk

MTN Ghana Passes VAT Reduction on to Customers

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MTN Ghana has reduced tariffs across its voice, data and device financing services following Ghana’s revised VAT regime, which lowered the effective VAT rate from 21.9% to 20%.

The operator implemented the tariff adjustments from January 2, shortly after the new tax rules took effect, passing the tax reduction through to customers. While the individual savings are modest, the impact could be significant given MTN’s large subscriber base and transaction volumes.

MTN remains Ghana’s dominant telecom operator, with recent National Communications Authority figures showing it holds about 72.7% of the mobile voice market and 79% of mobile data market. The company has held Significant Market Power status since 2020, subjecting it to regulatory measures intended to promote competition.

The lower tariffs could also support wider digital adoption, particularly for small businesses and consumers that rely on mobile data for e-commerce, mobile money and other digital services. However, MTN’s continued market dominance remains a key issue for regulators assessing competition in Ghana’s telecommunications sector.

Source : www.myjoyonline.com

Government Urges Civil Service IT Staff to Lead Ghana’s AI Governance

Deputy Communications Minister Mohammed Adam Sukparu has urged civil service IT professionals to move beyond technical support roles and take a more strategic role in shaping Ghana’s digital future as government adoption of data and artificial intelligence grows.

Speaking at the 7th General Meeting of the Information Technology and Information Management Association of Ghana’s Civil Service, Sukparu stressed the importance of data quality, security and effective information management in sectors including healthcare, education, agriculture, justice and public finance.

He highlighted government investments in digital public infrastructure, broadband, digital financial services, e-government platforms and cybersecurity, alongside the implementation of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy.

Sukparu also called for stronger collaboration among IT professionals across ministries, departments and agencies to establish common standards and strengthen cybersecurity, interoperability, AI readiness, digital inclusion and skills development.

Source :  www. newsghana.com.gh

NCA Inaugurates Dispute Resolution Committee

The Board Chair of the National Communications Authority (NCA), Ms. Mavis A. Ampah, has inaugurated a twelve-member Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) at the NCA Tower to facilitate the amicable resolution of disputes among stakeholders within the industry.  

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Director General of the NCA, Rev. Ing. Edmund Y. Fianko, highlighted the importance of the DRC to the NCA’s regulatory mandate. He highlighted that Sections 84 and 85, as enshrined in the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775), enjoin the NCA and its Board to establish a dispute resolution process and a Dispute Resolution Committee respectively to resolve disputes amongst its stakeholders. 

He explained that the Committee is critical to ensuring that disputes are addressed through established procedures and in a manner that promotes confidence in the regulatory process. He expressed confidence that the experience and expertise of the members would contribute significantly to the work of the Committee. 

The Board Chair of the NCA, Ms. Mavis Ampah, in delivering her remarks, highlighted the importance of the Committee in supporting the NCA’s mandate to effectively resolve disputes within the communications industry. 

She noted that the composition of the Committee reflected a balance of expertise, gender and collective experience required to effectively discharge its responsibilities. “The work of the Committee is important to the NCA’s role in addressing disputes between service providers as well as disputes involving service providers and consumers, and I urge members to bring their respective expertise and experience to bear on the work of the Committee and discharge their responsibilities with fairness and integrity,” she said.  

The newly inaugurated Committee comprises: 

  1. Mr. George Sarpong – Chairperson
  2. Alhaji Ibrahim Abdul-Rauf Tanko
  3. Mr. Eric Yaw Nsarkoh
  4. Ms. Farida Bedwei
  5. Mr. Mohammed Alhassan
  6. Ms. Clara Pinkrah-Sam
  7. Ms. Peggy Addo
  8. Mr. Prince Hari Crystal
  9. Ms. Anita Abena Asante
  10. Mr. Robert Apaya
  11. Mr. Yaw Berhene Bonsu
  12. Mr. Bernard Amissah-Ocran
  13. Ms. Grace Prempeh
  14. Mr. Oliver Baker-Vormawor
  15. Mrs. Golda Sowah Adjei- Registrar

The Chairman of the Committee and NCA Board Member, Mr. George Sarpong, speaking on behalf of the members, expressed gratitude to the Board for the confidence reposed in the Committee. 

Drawing on his experience as part of the team that contributed to the development of the legal framework underpinning the DRC, he reflected on the need for an effective mechanism capable of responding to the relationship between law and rapidly evolving technology. 

He noted that while the law seeks stability, technology continues to evolve and disrupt established systems. The DRC was therefore conceived as one of the mechanisms to facilitate the speedy resolution of disputes arising within the industry while remaining guided by the law. 

The DRC provides an alternative dispute resolution mechanism to assist parties in finding mutually beneficial ways of resolving disputes. Its subject matter jurisdiction covers disputes involving network providers, network operators, service providers, utility providers and consumers, in accordance with the applicable legal and regulatory framework. 

The inauguration reinforces the NCA’s commitment to transparent, fair and effective regulation and to providing appropriate mechanisms for resolving disputes among stakeholders in Ghana’s communications industry. 

Source : www. nca.org.gh

Huawei Drives Senegal’s Solar Expansion with 100MW Project

Huawei is strengthening its role in Senegal’s renewable energy sector after signing an MoU with national utility Senelec for two 50MW solar plants in Linguère and Koungheul.

The projects will also feature 30MW/90MWh of battery storage, supporting Senegal’s push to expand solar generation while improving energy reliability. The agreement builds on cooperation between Senelec, Huawei and China National Technical Import and Export Corporation (CNTIC) that began in 2025.

Huawei’s involvement forms part of the company’s broader participation in Africa’s clean-energy transition, as Chinese technology and energy firms increasingly support large-scale solar and battery-storage projects across the continent. Senegal is also planning additional solar capacity, including a 500MW tender with 100MW/400MWh of storage.

The growing deployment of Chinese solar technology is helping accelerate Africa’s renewable energy expansion, while also highlighting the continent’s increasing dependence on China’s solar manufacturing industry.

Source : www.ecofinagency.com

Telecel Ghana Launches Agent Loyalty Scheme to Strengthen Mobile Money Ecosystem

Telecel Ghana has launched the Telecel Agent Loyalty Scheme to reward mobile money agents and strengthen the country’s digital financial ecosystem.

The scheme was unveiled at the Telecel–MoMAG Agent Conference in Accra, which brought together more than 400 mobile money agents, retailers, regulators, financial institutions and other industry stakeholders. The forum focused on improving agent performance, security, compliance and business sustainability.

Telecel Ghana’s Chief Operating Officer, Mohamad Ghaddar, said Telecel Cash recorded double-digit growth over the past year and remains committed to providing secure and trusted mobile financial services. He noted that the company would continue investing in stronger security measures to protect customers and combat fraud.

Sales and Distribution Director Samuel Sarpong said the loyalty scheme recognises the critical role agents play in expanding digital finance and provides a commission structure designe

d to reward agents based on the value they deliver.

The conference also highlighted the importance of collaboration among industry stakeholders to strengthen fraud prevention, financial inclusion and digital resilience. Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications CEO Sylvia Owusu-Ankomah called for a shift from rapid adoption towards deeper financial inclusion, productive digital finance use and stronger trust.

Telecel Ghana also recognised high-performing agents for their dedication and contribution to providing reliable financial services in their communities, reinforcing the company’s commitment to building a safer, more sustainable and profitable agent network.

Source : www.businessghana.com