Industry News

The Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), under the leadership of Mr. Sofo Tanko Rashid-Computer, has marked one year of measurable progress in its mandate to bridge the digital divide and expand access to electronic communications in underserved and unserved communities across the country.

Over the past year, the Fund has implemented a series of strategic interventions aimed at strengthening rural connectivity, promoting digital inclusion, and supporting public institutions with reliable ICT infrastructure.

•Expanding Rural Telephony Coverage

As part of efforts to enhance rural connectivity, GIFEC conducted a comprehensive status assessment of 1,542 existing Rural Telephony Project (RTP) sites to evaluate infrastructure conditions and service quality.

Additionally, technical site surveys were carried out in 371 communities to determine their suitability for new telecommunication deployments. Network simulations for these communities are currently ongoing to guide the rollout of additional sites.

Mast erection has commenced in selected areas, while land acquisition processes are underway in 55 communities within the Volta Region to facilitate further expansion.

GIFEC says more communities are being earmarked for technical surveys, reinforcing its commitment to extending mobile network coverage to underserved populations nationwide.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, GIFEC successfully organized the National Girls in ICT Day Climax Celebration at the University of Health and Allied Sciences in Ho. The event saw 1,000 girls receive hands-on ICT training, with over 100 participants awarded laptops, certificates, and cash prizes.

A similar large-scale training programme was held in the Upper West Region, where another 1,000 girls benefited from digital skills training and received awards.

The initiative is aimed at encouraging more girls to pursue careers in ICT and closing the gender gap in digital skills and access to technology.

•Empowering Women Through Digital Skills

Women empowerment has also featured prominently in GIFEC’s digital inclusion agenda. In Tamale, the Fund launched a two-week ICT Training of Trainers programme for 30 women in ICT, in partnership with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Cisco.

Beyond this, free digital skills training was extended to female small business owners in Jasikan, Nkwanta South, and Krachi West in the Oti Region. 

The programmes are designed to enhance productivity, improve market access, and strengthen business sustainability through practical ICT knowledge.

•Institutional and School Connectivity Support

Within the year under review, GIFEC provided connectivity support to several public institutions, including the Narcotics Control Commission, Ghana Army Recruit Training Centre, National Road Safety Authority, National Sports Authority, National Hajj Board, and the Students Loan Trust Fund.

The Fund also connected a number of basic and secondary schools under its Schools Connectivity Project, improving access to digital learning resources and online educational platforms.

•Recognition and Awards

GIFEC’s performance over the past year has attracted both local and international recognition. The Fund received multiple awards, including Top Leader Recognition, Championing Inclusive Digital Transformation – Fund of the Year, and Top Transformational Leaders Recognition.

•Sustaining the Momentum

As the new year begins, GIFEC says it remains focused on scaling rural connectivity, strengthening digital inclusion for women and girls, and ensuring that investments in ICT infrastructure translate into improved livelihoods, enhanced access to services, and inclusive digital participation across Ghana.

Source : https://www.myjoyonline.com

Africa leading operator MTN, in collaboration with Huawei, successfully completed the world’s first large-scale deployment of the Alpha Antenna in Ghana. This milestone represents a substantial enhancement in network performance, with the transition to intelligent and AI-driven innovation establishing a new benchmark for the evolution toward autonomous driving networks in Africa and globally. This deployment has validated groundbreaking performance improvements and operational efficiencies. Post-deployment tests recorded a rise in regional traffic by 6.8%, while improving operations and maintenance efficiency by a factor of 30x.

Confronting persistent network operations and maintenance challenges of manual dependency, slow adaptation, and inconsistent accuracy, MTN has unlocked a new paradigm through the Alpha Antenna deployment. The solution’s integrated AISU (Antenna Information Sensor Unit) enables fully automated, real-time, and precise retrieval of antenna parameters, eliminating manual site visits. The AIMU (Array Information Mapping Unit) ensures real-time and exact visualization of network topology, eradicating configuration errors. Furthermore, it supports remote adjustment of multi-dimensional beams, allowing the network to dynamically adapt coverage and capacity to real-time demands, collapsing optimization cycles from weeks to minutes while delivering a consistently superior user experience.

The Alpha antenna is driving a paradigm shift in network operations by endowing networks with closed-loop capabilities for “real-time retrieval, precise control, and dynamic optimization”—transitioning from passive, reactive manual intervention to a proactive, AI-powered model. This transition provides a crucial “digital foundation” for MTN in building a high-level Autonomous Driving Network (ADN), making self-optimization and autonomous evolution of the network a reality.

MTN Ghana states that the Alpha Antenna solution represents a pivotal step toward the full digital transformation of network infrastructure. It not only significantly reduces operational complexity and costs but, more importantly, empowers the network with real-time retrieval and rapid-response capabilities. This successful collaboration with Huawei has laid a solid foundation for future AI-driven intelligent networks, injecting fresh momentum into Africa’s digital transformation.

Source : www.huawei.com

The MTN Ghana Foundation has mobilised 525 units of blood from three Senior High Schools (SHSs) in the Northern Region as part of this year’s Save A Life Campaign to supply blood banks in the region.

At Tamale SHS, a total of 273 units of blood were mobilised, while 200 units and 52 units were mobilised at Tamale Islamic Science SHS and Bimbilla SHS, respectively.

The blood donation exercise, which took place at the respective schools on Friday, February 14 formed part of the MTN Ghana Foundation’s commitment to mobilising voluntary blood donations to strengthen healthcare delivery across the country.

Speaking during the exercise in Tamale, Richard Asemane, the Northern Regional Territory Sales Controller of MTN Ghana, said the Foundation’s target was to collect 640 pints of blood in the region and 7,000 pints nationwide as part of the campaign.

He noted that over the years, blood mobilised through the initiative had been distributed to health facilities, including the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, and Ridge Hospital.

Mr Asemane added that this year’s exercise also formed part of MTN Ghana’s 30th anniversary activities, aimed at supporting national development initiatives, including health interventions.

Meanwhile, Ziblim Adam, Chief Blood Donor Organiser at TTH, said voluntary blood donations in the Northern Sector remained low, with the facility meeting only about 30% of its annual demand through voluntary donors.

He explained that rare blood groups, particularly negative types, were difficult to mobilise, noting that in every hundred donations, only about 5% might be negative, making it challenging to meet urgent blood group-related needs.

Mr Adam said the timing of the donation exercise was significant because it preceded the Ramadan fasting period, during which voluntary donations usually decline.

He also addressed misconceptions surrounding blood donation, dismissing claims that donated blood was sold or used for rituals.

“They pay what we call the processing fee. The charges cover laboratory screening, testing and equipment costs, and not payment for the blood itself,” he explained.

Mr Adam urged the public to cultivate the habit of voluntary blood donation, stressing that “One unit of blood can save up to three lives, especially babies.”

Source : www.citinewsroom.com

Demonstrating its dedication to customer engagement, youth empowerment, digital education and financial inclusion, MTN Ghana partnered and participated in the 2026 Success Africa Summit held at the UPSA Auditorium in Accra on February 7, 2026.

The summit, which serves as a vital forum for mentoring and inspiring young individuals to become visionary leaders with purpose, brought together over 1,500 students from various second cycle and tertiary institutions in Accra, providing a platform for learning, inspiration and engagement with industry leaders.

MTN Ghana’s participation in the summit reinforces its commitment to empowering young people with the knowledge and tools required to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital world.

During the summit, Tony Boateng, Manager for Fintech Distribution Commercial and Operations at MobileMoney LTD, took the opportunity to educate students on digital fraud awareness and the importance of using secure digital payment platforms for responsible financial management. He emphasised how these practices support the broader development of a resilient digital financial ecosystem. His presentation covered common fraud typologies, highlighted emerging cyber threats within the digital financial landscape, and offered practical guidance to help students protect themselves in the digital space.

Dzudzorfe Hadzor, Coordinator for Data Devices & Home at MTN Ghana, also engaged the students on data usage and introduced them to the affordable bundle offers designed to support their academic and digital needs.

MTN attendees interacted with the students and responded to their queries. The students expressed appreciation to MTN, recognising the effort the company is making to support students.

With MTN on board, the Success Africa Summit will continue its journey to more regions in the coming weeks, broadening its reach and positively impacting even more students across the country.

Source : www.businessghana.com

MTN, Africa’s leading operator in terms of subscribers, had 301.3 million customers at the end of September 2025, including 165.8 million internet users. Despite this solid base, the group is seeking to adapt to market developments in a context of accelerated digital transformation.

Bayobab (MTN Digital Infrastructure), the digital infrastructure arm of the South African MTN Group, announced a partnership with Mozambican telecom operator TMCEL on Tuesday, February 10. As part of this agreement, Bayobab will make its digital platforms available to the incumbent operator to enhance its international communications services. This initiative aligns with MTN’s ambition to evolve from a telecommunications-centric model to that of a technology company.

In a press release, Bayobab stated that TMCEL will leverage its global communications platforms, including international voice, international roaming, and IPX services, to offer its residential and business customers advanced, scalable, and high-quality services. The partnership aims to enhance the international calling experience and ensure smoother cross-border connectivity.

The company emphasizes that this launch marks an important step in its partnership strategy, which consists of supporting African operators with the same level of expertise and capacity as that deployed across its entire international footprint.

“This partnership with TMCEL is a strong example of how MTN Digital Infrastructure is expanding its reach and capabilities to support African operators ,” said Mazen Mroué (pictured), Managing Director of MTN Group Digital Infrastructure.

This initiative comes at a time when MTN, like other African telecom operators, is seeking to diversify its activities beyond traditional services. This transition is all the more strategic as digital transformation accelerates across the continent, driven by evolving usage patterns, the rise of digital services, and the emergence of new business expectations, including in the telecommunications sector.

Bayobab, a pillar of MTN’s diversification strategy

MTN has chosen to empower Bayobab by separating it from its traditional telecom business. It is with this in mind that the entity abandoned its former name, MTN GlobalConnect, in May 2023. Bayobab now aims to position itself as a world-class, open-access, Africa-centric digital infrastructure platform, serving not only the MTN Group but also third-party clients.

To achieve this goal, the company relies on one of the continent’s most extensive fiber optic networks, boasting 127,000 km of open-access fiber, a presence in 54 African countries, access to 24 submarine cables and 235 landing stations.

In parallel, Bayobab is developing high-speed, low-latency satellite solutions to bridge the digital divide in rural and isolated areas. The company is also investing in data centers to strengthen its position in colocation and cloud services for hyperscalers, businesses, and African governments.

Beyond physical infrastructure, Bayobab also offers next-generation communication platforms – voice, messaging, roaming, IPX and IoT services – designed to support business performance.

Fintech, AI: MTN is multiplying its growth levers

This diversification strategy is also reflected in other structuring initiatives. On February 5, 2026, MTN announced its intention to acquire IHS Towers, one of the leading telecom tower providers in Africa, in which it already holds a 25% stake. If the transaction is completed, the group would enter the telecom tower market, a key infrastructure for the development of mobile services. Demand for this equipment is expected to grow in the coming years, driven by the accelerated rollout of 4G and 5G, increased data consumption, growing smartphone penetration, and the expansion of coverage in rural areas.

Furthermore, Ralph Mupita, CEO of MTN, recently told the media outlet Semafor that the group was interested in acquiring fintech start-ups, particularly in payments, loans and money transfers, in order to strengthen an activity that has become one of its main growth drivers.

MTN is also strengthening its position in emerging technologies. In September 2025, the group announced it was seeking international partners to develop data centers dedicated to artificial intelligence in Africa. A month earlier, it launched the “MTN Genova” program, designed to promote the responsible use of AI to drive innovation, improve productivity, and enhance the customer experience. The program is currently limited to the group level.

Use cases already tested include optimizing energy consumption in data centers in South Africa, intelligent energy management of cellular sites in Benin, detecting fiber optic breaks in Ivory Coast, and optimizing network traffic in Nigeria. 

Source : www.extensia.tech.com

MTN Ghana’s Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Blewett, has described the company’s recent recognition as the overall winner of the MTN Group 2025 Million Dollar Challenge as a “massive acknowledgement” of the team’s performance and commitment to customers.

Speaking at the first edition of the MTN Bright Conversation, Stephen Blewett said the award, presented at the MTN Global Leadership Gathering 2026, reflects execution excellence across all business segments.

“It’s always very pleasing to be the CEO of a very successful organisation. But the reality of the success of MTN Ghana is the engaged and passionate people we have here,” he stated.

According to him, the achievement was broad-based. “It’s the first time in my career… that I’ve actually sat back at the end of the year and said, I can’t think of a single department that hasn’t done well. That’s unusual,” he noted, citing strong performances in data innovation, customer experience, network expansion, and fintech, particularly mobile money.

Beyond recognition, Stephen Blewett signalled an aggressive investment drive backed by macroeconomic stability.

“Any business wants a stable macro environment, and that’s what we got in 2025,” he said, adding that stability provides certainty for long-term capital commitments.

“We will invest over $300 million this year in Ghana. That investment’s not going to pay off in one year. So as a CEO we need to know there’s a stable economic future.”

He further highlighted that exchange rate stability enhances network investment capacity, explaining that a stronger cedi allows the company to procure more equipment for expansion and quality improvements.

Looking ahead to 2026, the CEO outlined a strategy anchored on deeper network rollout, digital transformation and customer-centric innovation.

“We want to work on the network. We need to roll out more sites… look at peri-urban areas… and even rural areas,” he said. The company also plans to expand digital self-service options through its MyMTN platform and scale support for small businesses in the digital economy.

Summing up his outlook, Mr Blewett declared, “I’m looking forward to a year of innovation… be leaders in driving innovation in Ghana and making innovation something that benefits the lives of our customers.”

Source : www.citinewsroom.com

Telecel Ghana has once again been recognized as a Top Employer, marking the eighth consecutive year the telecom operator has received the prestigious certification.

The certification, awarded by the Top Employers Institute, places the telecom operator among a select group of employers globally that have sustained high standards in workforce practices and people management across areas such as leadership, learning and development, diversity and inclusion, employee wellbeing, and workplace culture.

“For eight consecutive years, our people practices have met global benchmarks. That consistency tells us we are building a workplace where employees feel valued, supported, and empowered to grow,” said Ing. Patricia Obo-Nai, CEO of Telecel Ghana.

The Top Employers Institute assesses organizations through a detailed audit of their human resource policies and employee experience, a comprehensive process that covers six key dimensions such as People Strategy, Work Environment, Talent Acquisition, Learning, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and Wellbeing, among others.

Telecel Ghana’s Human Resources Director, Rachael Appenteng, believes that the recognition validates the telco’s people strategy during a period of change and growth.

“Our ongoing efforts to enhance how people experience the organization continue to focus on building trust, strengthening capability, and creating inclusive systems that empower our people to bring their best selves to work. This recognition reaffirms our commitment to co-creating an enabling and supportive work culture with our employees,” Rachael said

In reaction to the bestowed recognition, Telecel Ghana employees affirmed that the collaborative and supportive workplace culture is what sets the company apart.

Torikubu Omar is a Management Information Systems & Data Science Analyst who has worked with Telecel for the last three years. She said, “This recognition as Top Employer is well-deserved because it reflects what the company embodies and our daily experience. Working at Telecel Ghana feels like belonging to a community that truly sees and supports you. There’s space to learn, to speak up, and to grow professionally and personally as well.”

For Telecel Ghana, the eighth consecutive Top Employer certification comes at a time when the telco’s is expanding its connectivity footprint and investing significantly in technological infrastructure. Against that backdrop, Telecel Ghana believes that a strong internal workplace culture will remain central to improving performance and trust.

The Top Employers Institute is the global authority for recognising excellence in people management practices, certifying organisations that meet rigorous international standards as employers of choice. In 2025, it certified nearly 2,500 companies across 131 countries and regions, collectively impacting more than 14 million employees worldwide.

Source : www.citinewsroom.com

The Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) has carried out an on-site assessment of rural telephony infrastructure in several communities within the Ellembelle Municipality of the Western Region.

Led by the Director of Corporate Affairs, Ms. Francisca Mawufemor Adjei, a technical team visited communities including Aluku, Dump, Aidoosuazo, and Atuabo to evaluate current network coverage, identify connectivity gaps, and determine the infrastructure needed to improve telecommunication services.

The District Chief Executive of Ellembelle, Joseph Kwesi Armah Agyekum, joined the team throughout the inspection.

The exercise is part of GIFEC’s ongoing efforts to expand access to electronic communications in unserved and underserved areas, bridging the digital divide and enhancing connectivity nationwide.

Findings from the site visits will inform the planning and rollout of future projects, ensuring residents in these communities gain access to reliable and efficient telecommunication services.

source : www.myjoyonline.com

MTN Ghana emerged as the top-performing operation across the MTN footprint and was crowned the overall winner of the MTN Group 2025 Million Dollar Challenge. 

The company picked up a total of six major awards, reaffirming its status as one of the Group’s most consistent and forward-driving businesses.

The feat was announced at the MTN Global Leadership Gathering (GLG) 2026, where leaders from across the Group converged to celebrate breakthrough performance and innovation.

MTN Ghana’s win underscores its market-leading execution, strong financial and operational performance and its ability to scale strategic platforms across Fintech, Enterprise, and Consumer segments. 

Other awards

Other awards won by MTN Ghana, according to a statement, include the Million Dollar Challenge 2025 – Connectivity (Enterprise); Million Dollar Challenge 2025 – Connectivity (Consumer), and Million Dollar Challenge 2025 – Fintech (MoMo Ghana).

The rest are the CEO of the Year – Fintech, which went to Shaibu Haruna, who heads MoMo Ghana, and the Overall CEO of the Year, first Runner-Up, which was picked up again by Mr Haruna.

Powerful endorsement

Speaking on the company’s outstanding achievement, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MTN Ghana, Stephen Blewett, said: “This recognition is a powerful endorsement of the relentless commitment, creativity and execution excellence of our teams.”

He added that winning the overall Million Dollar Challenge and leading across critical platforms such as Fintech, Enterprise and Consumer showed that MTN Ghana was not only delivering strong results, but building sustainable platforms for future growth.

“I am immensely proud of our people and the discipline with which they continue to deliver on our strategy,” Mr Blewett added.

Context

The GLG 2026 brought together senior leaders from across MTN’s operating companies to assess progress, refine strategic priorities and reinforce the leadership standards required to navigate an increasingly competitive and complex digital landscape.

MTN Ghana’s performance at the 2025 Million Dollar Challenge positions the business as a benchmark for excellence within the MTN Group and highlights the company’s commitment to innovation, customer value creation and long-term growth.

MTN Ghana Foundation, in partnership with Cal Bank, will lead the 2026 “Save A Life” Blood Donation Drive with an ambitious target to collect 7,000 units of blood in a single day to support the National Blood Service and regional hospital blood banks across the country.

The nationwide event is scheduled for Friday, 13th February 2026, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with donation centres activated across all 16 regions of Ghana. Major collection points will be set up at the MTN Ghana Head Office, MobileMoney Ltd office at the Stanchart Building and Cal Bank Head Office at Ridge, Accra, alongside 44 designated centres nationwide to ensure maximum public participation.

Speaking ahead of the exercise, Samuel Bartels, Acting Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer at MTN Ghana, underscored the urgency and impact of the initiative: “Ghana still faces a significant blood shortage and every unit donated becomes a lifeline for someone’s parent, child, friend, or colleague. This campaign is not just another event. It is an act of love, a demonstration of leadership and a reaffirmation of our MTN value to lead with care.”

He called on all eligible donors, corporate institutions and the public to participate: “Blood is an essential resource, and the need for it never stops. We are appealing to Ghanaians everywhere—if you are able, please join us at any of the designated centres.

Your donation could save a mother, a child, or someone in emergency care. Together, we can make a real and lasting impact.”

Members of the public can access the full list of donation centres on MTN Ghana’s website and official social media platforms.

Since its inception in 2011, the MTN “Save a Life” campaign has grown into one of the country’s most impactful voluntary blood donation programmes. The initiative was launched in response to repeated appeals from the National Blood Service to address critically low blood supplies. To date, it has mobilised over 35,000 units of blood, helping save thousands of lives and supporting hospitals in life‑saving emergency and routine care.

The 2026 edition builds on this legacy—strengthening partnerships, expanding reach, and reinforcing MTN Ghana Foundation’s longstanding commitment to national health and community wellbeing.

source : www.thebftonline.com