As the world shifts into digital gear, connectivity has become the defining infrastructure that underpins economic growth. For Ghana, the true measure of progress in the digital economy is not just the number of startups launched, or platforms rolled out. It is whether citizens can access the internet affordably, reliably, and consistently, regardless of where they live.
The country’s push toward digital transformation is gaining ground. In 2025, Ghana boasts one of the highest mobile broadband penetration rates in West Africa. Over 93 percent of mobile connections are broadband-capable, with 4G expansion improving coverage in key urban zones. These numbers suggest momentum.
But broadband statistics do not tell the full story.
Expensive Internet, Uneven Access
Ghana ranks among Africa’s most expensive data markets. As of early 2025, 1GB of data costs between GHS 10 and GHS 12, significantly above the UN Broadband Commission’s affordability threshold of 2 percent of monthly income. For a minimum-wage earner in Ghana, buying 5GB of monthly data could consume more than 10 percent of their take-home pay. The calls for data price reduction is growing in Ghana, the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Mr. Sam Nartey George, has also reaffirmed his commitment to reducing internet data costs in Ghana before the end of 2025.
This cost burden is quietly stalling Ghana’s digital transition. While startups and e-commerce platforms multiply in Accra, the same is not true for Tamale, Wa, or Ho. Tech entrepreneurs outside major cities face recurring outages, unstable coverage, and unsustainable data costs. For many, the dream of building digital livelihoods remains theoretical.
The Economic Payoff Is Clear
Evidence from the World Bank and International Telecommunication Union shows that in low- and middle-income countries, every 10 percent increase in mobile broadband penetration can drive GDP per capita growth of up to 2.8 percent. Ghana’s digital gains, particularly in mobile money, agritech, and e-logistics, are already contributing to non-oil GDP.
But scale is elusive. Without a decisive push to expand last-mile access and lower prices, Ghana risks locking millions out of the digital economy. It is not just a matter of social equity. It is a question of long-term competitiveness.
The State Must Treat Internet Connectivity Like Power or Roads
Private operators have extended coverage largely based on commercial incentives. But profitability alone does not drive inclusive infrastructure. Rural communities and underserved peri-urban zones remain economically unattractive to telecoms, and universal access targets remain unmet.
That is where public investment should step in. Ghana’s Universal Access Fund has long been underutilized. The government in 2024 pledged to deploy 4,400 new rural telecom sites under a €155 million infrastructure plan. The project aims to reach 37 million end customers by 2028 and increase the 4G penetration rate to at least 80%. It is expected to reduce the digital divide, promote financial inclusion, and enable the government to achieve its goal of making Ghana 100% digital by 2030. While progress on the initiative is unknown, funding alone is not enough. Execution, coordination, and pricing regulation must follow.
More broadly, broadband development needs to be embedded in national economic planning. Ghana cannot afford to approach digital infrastructure as a siloed sector. E-health, remote education, digital agriculture, and public procurement reforms all collapse without reliable connectivity.
Plan for the Digital Economy We Are Entering, Not the One We Are Leaving
Ghana’s digital economy is changing faster than its policy frameworks. Spectrum pricing remains uncompetitive. Right-of-way fees and import tariffs on fiber-optic infrastructure continue to discourage private investment. Regulation of broadband quality and consumer protection remains weak, especially outside urban centers.
Meanwhile, demand is surging. AI-powered services, cloud computing, video-heavy education platforms, and smart agriculture solutions all require high-capacity networks. Ghana’s infrastructure planning must anticipate, not react to, this next wave of demand.
Countries like Kenya and Rwanda are already betting big on digital public infrastructure. Ghana cannot afford to lag. If connectivity is treated as optional or commercial-only, it will quietly become the country’s biggest development bottleneck.
The Policy Window Is Open
If investment must be selective, then broadband and internet connectivity and pricing should be amongst the list. Its multiplier effect across jobs, trade, education, and healthcare is well-documented.
In the 2000s, Ghana treated roads and energy as foundations for growth. It is time to treat broadband the same way. Connectivity is not a luxury. It is economic infrastructure. And unless Ghana makes that shift in mindset now, the digital economy will remain a privilege, not a platform for inclusive growth.
