Industry News

This aligns with MTN’s broader Ambition 2030 strategy, which prioritizes connectivity, fintech, and digital infrastructure.

MTN Group has begun the gradual phase-out of its Ayoba super app across African markets, ending a seven-year effort to build a local alternative to global messaging platforms like WhatsApp. The move, confirmed in March 2026, marks a strategic shift in how the company delivers digital services.

The company is now focusing on a unified digital ecosystem that brings together messaging, entertainment, and financial services in one integrated platform, rather than maintaining separate standalone apps. This aligns with MTN’s broader Ambition 2030 strategy, which prioritizes connectivity, fintech, and digital infrastructure.

Launched in 2019, Ayoba quickly grew to tens of millions of users, supported by free data promotions and SMS-based access. However, the app struggled to retain users long-term as global competitors offered stronger network effects and broader functionality. Technical issues and onboarding challenges also affected user experience in its later stages.

As part of the transition, Ayoba was removed from app stores on 20 March 2026, with existing users given a limited window to access and back up their data. New downloads are no longer available, and users who uninstall the app cannot reinstall it. The company has advised users to review updated terms as it moves into this new phase.

Source : www. techafricanews.com

Scancom PLC, operators of MTN Ghana, have reported strong financial and operational performance for the 2025 financial year, with shareholders approving a higher dividend payout at the company’s 8th Annual General Meeting.

The meeting, held at the University of Professional Studies, Auditorium in Accra on Tuesday, March 24, brought together shareholders, board members, and management to review the company’s performance and future direction.

Board Chairman of MTN Ghana, Ishmael Yamson, said the company’s performance came despite a challenging global economic environment.

He explained that 2025 was marked by uncertainty, driven by geopolitical tensions and trade disputes, although investments in artificial intelligence helped sustain global growth.

“The global economy in 2025 faced intense volatility, shaped by escalating geopolitical tensions and US-led trade disputes,” he said, adding that despite these pressures, global growth reached 3.3% for the year.

Mr Yamson also pointed to easing inflation globally and a weakening US dollar as factors that provided some relief to emerging markets.

Against this backdrop, MTN Ghana delivered strong results, recording a 36.1% increase in total revenue compared to 2024. The growth was driven by expansion across data, mobile money, digital, and voice services.

The company also reported a 43.5% rise in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA), with profit after tax increasing by 55.9%.

On the back of this performance, the Board recommended a final dividend of 40 pesewas per share, bringing the total dividend for 2025 to 48 pesewas per share. This represents about 81% of profit after tax and a 57.4% increase compared to the previous year.

Chief Finance Officer, Antoinette Kwofie, said the payout reflects both strong performance and confidence in the company’s outlook.

She said that MTN Ghana remains committed to distributing between 60% and 80% of its profits as dividends, explaining that the slightly higher payout for 2025 was supported by solid operational results.

Mrs Kwofie also addressed rising costs, attributing them to strategic hiring in key growth areas such as fintech and home broadband, as well as employee share schemes linked to the company’s share price growth.

She assured shareholders that the company continues to strengthen its risk management systems, particularly in mobile money operations, through enhanced fraud prevention measures and public education.

On tax matters, she said ongoing audits by the Ghana Revenue Authority are at various stages, with management engaging authorities to resolve outstanding issues.

Chief Executive Officer of MTN Ghana, Stephen Blewett, described 2025 as a strong year for the business, supported by both internal strategy and improved economic conditions.

“I am pleased to report that 2025 was a year of robust operational and financial performance for MTN Ghana,” he said.

He added that disciplined execution of the company’s strategy, coupled with easing inflation and a stronger local currency, helped boost consumer spending and investor confidence.

According to him, Ghana’s macroeconomic environment improved significantly during the year, with inflation dropping sharply and the cedi strengthening against the US dollar.

“This created a stable and predictable economic climate… leading to higher spending and fuelling economic growth,” he said.

MTN Ghana also recorded strong growth in its mobile money business, with revenue rising by 35.7% to GH¢6.0 billion. The number of active users increased by 12.3% to 19.3 million.

The growth was partly driven by the removal of the e-levy, which reduced transaction costs and encouraged wider use of digital financial services.

Looking ahead, the company expects Ghana’s economy to remain stable in 2026, supported by controlled inflation and improved policy measures.

However, Mr Blewett cautioned that global risks, including geopolitical tensions and trade uncertainties, could still affect the outlook.

Despite these risks, he said MTN Ghana is well-positioned to grow, with continued investments in digital services, network expansion, and customer experience.

He added that the company is upgrading its myMTN and MoMo platforms to deliver more user-focused services, while also strengthening security systems to protect customers.

Beyond business, MTN Ghana says it will continue to invest in social initiatives through its foundation, focusing on education, healthcare, and digital inclusion.

“The MTN Ghana Foundation will continue to champion transformative projects that address critical societal needs, with a particular focus on expanding access to quality education and strengthening healthcare delivery across our communities.”

“We are intensifying our efforts to bridge educational gaps by supporting infrastructure development, providing essential learning materials, and promoting digital literacy initiatives for students and teachers.

“In healthcare, our programs will prioritize the renovation of medical facilities, provision of life-saving equipment, and health outreach campaigns that benefit underserved populations,” the CEO said.

The company expressed appreciation to its customers, regulators, and shareholders, noting that their support remains key to its continued growth.

“To our customers, your loyalty and trust inspire us every day to raise the bar and deliver exceptional service. To the government and regulators, thank you for fostering an environment in which we can thrive. And to our shareholders, your belief in Scancom PLC empowers us to pursue our ambitions with confidence.”

Source: www.myjoyonline.com

• Experts meet from March 23–26 ahead of ministerial decisions on March 27 
• Discussions focus on telecom harmonization, digital regulation and regional infrastructure 
• Outcomes expected to support ECOWAS digital single market and cross-border services 

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has convened technical experts in Freetown, Sierra Leone, from March 23 to 26, 2026, as part of a policy process aimed at accelerating digital integration across the region. According to ECOWAS, the meeting brings together specialists in telecommunications, ICT policy and digital transformation to develop recommendations that will be submitted to ministers for adoption on March 27. The discussions focus on regulatory harmonization, infrastructure development and frameworks to support digital services across member states.

The consultations come as ECOWAS advances plans to establish a regional digital single market, an initiative endorsed by stakeholders in early 2026. According to regional authorities, the objective is to align national regulations, improve interoperability of digital systems and reduce barriers to cross-border digital services within the bloc.

Fragmentation remains a major constraint to digital growth in West Africa. Differences in licensing regimes, spectrum allocation, data governance and taxation continue to limit the expansion of telecom operators, fintech firms and digital platforms across borders. Harmonized rules as stated by officials are expected to lower operational costs, improve market access and encourage investment in regional digital infrastructure.

According to the World Bank, digital technologies could contribute substantially to economic growth in Africa, with increased broadband penetration linked to higher GDP growth rates and productivity gains. In West Africa, expanding access to digital services is also seen as a key driver for financial inclusion and SME development.

ECOWAS officials indicate that the digital single market initiative is designed to support cross-border trade, particularly in sectors such as e-commerce and digital financial services. The framework aligns with the African Continental Free Trade Area, which seeks to facilitate intra-African trade and the movement of goods and services across the continent.

Key policy areas under discussion include telecom infrastructure sharing, regional roaming frameworks, cybersecurity standards and data protection rules. These measures are intended to create a more predictable regulatory environment for private sector investment while improving access to digital services for businesses and consumers.

The Freetown meeting is part of ECOWAS’ institutional process for developing regional policy, where technical recommendations are reviewed and adopted at ministerial level before implementation by member states. The outcomes of the March 27 session are expected to shape the bloc’s digital policy direction in the coming years.

Source: www.ecofinagency.com

More than 300 youths graduated from the Huawei DigiTruck programme in Chuka, Tharaka-Nithi County, in a significant boost to Kenya’s efforts to bridge the digital divide and equip young people with market-ready skills.

The training, delivered through a mobile digital classroom, is part of a partnership between Huawei Technologies Kenya and the Government of Kenya, targeting underserved communities with hands-on instruction in basic software applications, internet use and digital tools for entrepreneurship and employment.

The graduation, held at Chuka DCC Grounds, was presided over by Hillars Olemoke , Director in the Department of Fisheries and Blue Economy, who represented Principal Secretary Betsy Njagi.

He said the initiative is aligned with government efforts to empower youth through digital literacy and innovation.

Mr. Olemoke noted that digital skills are increasingly critical in unlocking opportunities across sectors such as banking, security and the global online job market.

“This is the era of digital literacy. Young people can leverage these skills to access global opportunities and create their own employment,” he said.

He urged the graduates to apply the skills learnt responsibly and effectively, adding that the government has established digital hubs to support continuous learning and innovation.

He further revealed that, in collaboration with partners, plans are underway to equip the hubs with laptops and other resources to ensure sustainability of the programme.

“The government is committed to supporting the youth. We will continue working with partners to ensure these skills translate into meaningful opportunities,” he added.

Huawei Kenya Public Affairs Director, Yuta Leng, said the DigiTruck initiative aims to enhance digital inclusion nationwide, with plans to expand training to all 47 counties.

She noted that more graduations are expected, including one in Kisumu later this year, as the programme scales up its reach.

“We are committed to leaving no one behind in this digital era by equipping young people with essential skills for innovation, productivity and competitiveness,” she said.

A beneficiary of the programme, Allan Munene, said the training had equipped him s practical digital skills that will enable him to pursue new opportunities and improve his livelihood’s.

He encouraged fellow youth to take advantage of such initiatives, noting that digital skills are increasingly vital in today’s job market.

Source : www.kenyanews.go.ke

Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson has filed applications to register three trademarks in Russia related to heating, cooling, and ventilation, a TASS correspondent has learned.

The trademark applications, one of which uses the company name in Cyrillic, were submitted to the Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent) on March 23, 2026, by Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson of Sweden. The trademarks are intended for Class 11 of the International Classification of Goods and Services, which covers heating, cooling, and ventilation devices.

Earlier, Rospatent head Yuri Zubov told TASS that well-known foreign brands aim to secure both registration and renewal of their trademarks in Russia. He explained that trademarks protect against counterfeiting, ensuring that no one sells products under the brand’s name. Trademark holders are also interested in preserving their reputation, even if the local market—here, Russia—is temporarily inaccessible.

Ericsson suspended operations in Russia in 2022. In 2023, it halted purchases from domestic and foreign suppliers, stopped providing services to external clients, closed all local branches, and reduced its staff by 99%, providing severance payments. In 2024, the company continued terminating contracts with service providers.

Source : www.caliber.az

The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has urged Ghanaians to fully participate in the upcoming SIM card re-registration exercise.

Speaking in an interview with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Channel One TV’s Face to Face on Tuesday, March 24, Mr. George said it is important for all users of telecom services to take part in the process once it is rolled out.

“It’s advisable for everybody to ensure that when we roll out the registration process, you take part in it. Bearing in mind that you took part in a system that traumatised people—people queued for days—but now you have a system that will allow you to do this in the comfort of your home. The process will be mandatory for the use of telecom services in the country,” he stated

The minister also announced that the government expects to roll out the re-registration exercise in the third quarter of this year.

“I’m confident that in the third quarter of this year—anytime between July, August, and September—we will definitely be in a good position to roll out,” he said.

Source: www. citinewsroom.com

Ghana’s Minister for  Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, and Bank of Ghana (BoG) Governor Dr Johnson P. Asiama on Tuesday jointly signalled the government’s determination to position fintech at the heart of the country’s economic transformation agenda, speaking at the press launch of the 2026 3i Africa Summit in Accra.

Sam George said the Mahama administration had moved away from fragmented digital programmes toward a coordinated national framework underpinned by the Data Harmonisation Bill, broader affordable connectivity investments, and strengthened digital public infrastructure. He described fintech as a practical vehicle for inclusion, not an end in itself.

“Under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, Ghana’s digital transformation agenda is anchored on a people-centred approach where technology translates into tangible improvements in livelihoods,” he said. He added that upcoming reforms to the SIM registration framework would modernise digital identity systems and improve credit assessment within the digital lending space.

Dr Asiama used his keynote address to call for coordinated action across the continent, warning that no single country can build a transformative digital financial system in isolation. “Technology is fundamentally reshaping how value is created, transferred, and regulated. The decisions we take now will determine whether these changes become merely disruptive or truly developmental,” he said. He called specifically for interoperable payment systems, trusted digital infrastructure, and coherent regulatory frameworks across African markets.

The 3i Africa Summit 2026, themed “Shaping Africa’s Integrated Fintech Future”, is scheduled for May 6 to 8 in Accra. It is organised by the Bank of Ghana and Development Bank Ghana (DBG) in partnership with Elevandi, a subsidiary of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), and the Global Finance and Technology Network (GFTN). The summit is expected to convene heads of state, central bank governors, investors and innovators to chart the direction of Africa’s digital financial architecture and will feature a Digital Village showcasing Made-in-Ghana digital vendors operating exclusively through digital payment channels.

Source : www.newsghana.com.gh

With a few days to the final exhibition of student innovations as part of the Telecel Foundation’s DigiTech Academy across five regions, a team of students in Jirapa is putting finishing touches to a robot designed to help detect and fight bushfires in farming communities.

The third cohort of the Telecel Foundation’s DigiTech Academy, made up of 500 students from 19 schools with 70 per cent female participation, is now at the final project stage. In the coming days, students across five regions will present completed robotics, coding, and digital solutions during graduation ceremonies in their respective communities.

At the Commission Information Centre in Jirapa, one of two digital labs hosting the after-school programme in the Upper West municipality, 12-year-old Miltiades and her teammates are refining their final project ahead of graduation: a bushfire-fighting robot built to respond quickly when fires break out in vulnerable areas.

For Miltiades, a student at Ganaa Memorial Junior High School, the project is deeply personal. Nearly every dry season, bushfires sweep through farms on the outskirts of Jirapa, destroying crops and leaving many families counting losses. Her own family’s maize and shea farms have been affected several times.

Now, through the Telecel DigiTech Academy, she is helping design a practical response.

“With the robotics training Telecel Foundation is giving us, I want to build something useful,” Miltiades said. “At first, robotics felt difficult. The components and tools were confusing. But when I understood how they work, it became a session I enjoy every week.”

Their robot is intended to be stationed in fire-prone locations, where it can detect unusual heat or smoke, move toward the source of danger, and release water to contain the fire before it spreads. The team is also exploring how to integrate an alert system that sends signals directly to the fire service in Jirapa for rapid emergency response.

Across the digital lab, other student groups are equally focused as final presentations draw near. Some are assembling robotic systems for automatic irrigation, automated waste bins and grass-cutting devices, while others are developing digital platforms to support local commerce, including websites and e-commerce tools for promoting locally woven Fugu and Kente products.

As a way of strengthening the practical relevance of their bushfire solution, Miltiades’ team recently visited the local fire service station, where officers explained how fire alerts are received, the most common causes of bushfires in the municipality, and how response teams mobilise. The visit helped the students rethink how their robot could complement existing emergency systems rather than work in isolation.

Her father, Robert Dookure, a public health officer and farmer, says the idea reflects the reality many farming families face each year. He is encouraged that his daughter is already thinking beyond the classroom and applying technology to a challenge that affects their livelihood and many other families in the area.

“I am excited that Miltiades is working with her colleagues to build a bushfire solution. I think it must be coupled with education. Sometimes the fires are started by cattle herdsmen and game hunters on our farms. Awareness and education are equally important,” Mr Dookure added.

The DigiTech Academy is a 12-week practical learning programme in robotics, coding and website design delivered alongside the Ghana Education Service curriculum. The current cohort is being implemented in Peki in the Volta Region, Kormantse in the Central Region, Jirapa in the Upper West Region, Goaso in the Ahafo Region, and Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region

Since its launch in September 2024, the initiative has reached 2,300 students nationally.

Rita Agyeiwaa Rockson, Head of Foundation, Sustainability and External Communications at Telecel Ghana, said the projects emerging from this year’s cohort demonstrate how digital education can help young people solve immediate community challenges.

“It’s inspiring to see young people turn their challenge into purpose and build a solution for their community because that’s the true power of digital education. Our aim with the Telecel DigiTech Academy is to nurture problem-solvers who are ready to transform and lead their communities with technology while closing the digital gap nationally.”

Miltiades hopes to become a doctor one day but says the programme is already teaching her how to identify problems, test ideas, and work with others to find solutions.

“If this solution is adopted and used, I think farmers will have bigger farms and yields. I am excited to be part of the Telecel DigiTech Academy to build something useful and relevant that solves my community’s problems.”

When graduation ceremonies begin at the end of March as the academic term ends, her team’s bushfire detection robot will be among the innovations unveiled.

Source : www.citinewsroom.com

The Ho Municipal Assembly has received Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) equipment from GIFEC to improve digital connectivity in underserved communities.

The intervention is aimed at addressing persistent network challenges affecting communication and access to digital services across parts of the municipality.

Mr Stephen Adom, the Municipal Chief Executive of Ho, said the equipment, which uses Real-time Transport Protocol technology, would enhance transmission of audio and video over internet networks for services such as virtual communication and streaming.

The beneficiary communities included Akoefe, Tokokoe, Hodzo, Avee, and Lume, where residents had long complained about weak and unreliable network access.

Mr. Adom noted that the support formed part of broader efforts to bridge the digital divide and promote inclusive development.

“This intervention will significantly improve communication and digital access in the beneficiary communities,” he stated.

He explained that improved connectivity would facilitate access to education, healthcare information, and business opportunities, particularly for young people and entrepreneurs.

Mr. Adom expressed appreciation to the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) for the support, describing it as timely and impactful.

He reaffirmed its commitment to working with stakeholders to expand digital infrastructure and ensure equitable access to communication services.

He added that the initiative would contribute to socio-economic growth by enhancing information flow and connectivity across the municipality.

Source: gna.org.gh

Ericsson today announces the appointment of Siseko Ngxola as Head of Ericsson South Africa.

Ngxola has over 20 years of extensive experience in the telecommunications sector, having held various pivotal roles across different countries and industry segments. His career includes senior positions such as Head of Sales for Market Vertical and Enterprise, Sales Executive for Mobile Networks, and Strategic Account Manager. His background also includes valuable international exposure in markets such as the United Kingdom, Finland, and the Middle East, providing a global perspective on industry best practices.

Majda Lahlou Kassi, head of Ericsson West and Southern Africa, says, “Siseko has been a dedicated and critical part of our local leadership team for the past few years. His professionalism, expertise, and customer intimacy make him the ideal person to drive our vision for a more connected South Africa. This appointment highlights our commitment to nurturing local talent and reinforces our strategic focus on the market.”

Prior to this appointment, Ngxola was the key account manager at Ericsson and a key member of the Ericsson South Africa leadership team, which he joined in December 2024.

Ngxola concluded, “I am honored to lead Ericsson in South Africa during such an exciting time. The power of connectivity to transform lives and industries has never been more apparent. I look forward to working closely with our talented teams and valued partners to accelerate South Africa’s digital journey, strengthen our position in the market, and  deliver the innovative solutions our customers have come to expect from Ericsson.”

Source : www.itnewsafrica.com