MTN’s network expansion moves to boost tourism in underserved sites   

 By Edward Adjei FRIMPONG

MTN Ghana has begun processes to expand network coverage for tourist sites located in underserved communities across the middle belt and beyond, in a move aimed at boosting tourism development and improving visitor experience.

Poor telecommunication connectivity around many tourist destinations – particularly in the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo and surrounding regions – continues to hamper efforts at promoting domestic tourism. Visitors to waterfalls, wildlife parks, heritage monuments and rural cultural centres frequently encounter weak voice signals, unstable mobile data or total network blackouts.

The situation creates inconvenience for tourists and also affects safety and service delivery. Many visitors struggle to navigate routes, make digital payments, contact hotel operators or share their experiences online. Tourism operators say such interruptions diminish visitor satisfaction and limit the potential of local communities to fully benefit from tourism-related economic activity.

“In line with our network expansion programme for 2026–2027, we will compile all tourist sites located in underserved areas and conduct an evaluation to determine which ones are feasible to connect immediately. The remaining sites will be added in subsequent phases of the expansion,” said Nii Adotey Mingle, General Manager for MTN’s Northern Business District.

Mr. Mingle made the comments in response to questions at MTN’s 2025 media and stakeholder engagement session held in Sunyani. The forum brought together journalists from the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regions, as well as representatives from key regulatory and public-sector institutions including the National Communications Authority, Environmental Protection Agency, Ghana Highway Authority, Police Service and Department of Urban Roads.

He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to accelerating network expansion nationwide, saying: “MTN will continue investing in telecom infrastructure to drive digital transformation and support sustainable development as Ghana’s digital economy rapidly evolves”.

On her part, Jemima Kotei-Walsh, MTN Ghana’s Chief Customer Experience Officer, said the company has invested US$1billion over the past five years to reinforce the country’s digital infrastructure, including US$240million earmarked for 2025 to expand fibre-optic capacity and enhance 4G and 5G services.

“These are not just network upgrades, they are the digital rails that support Ghana’s economic growth,” she said.

Ms. Kotei-Walsh added that sustainability has become a core pillar of MTN’s operations rather than a peripheral initiative, noting that the company is aligning long-term value creation with responsible environmental practices. In April 2025, MTN launched Project Zero – a programme aimed at reducing emissions and transitioning to cleaner, more efficient operations.

She said MTN’s head office and data centres now run on solar power and the company has introduced electric vehicles into its fleet while continuing to invest in technologies that advance its Net Zero 2040 agenda. “All these improvements translate into a more stable network and a more resilient digital ecosystem,” she noted.

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