Telecoms giant MTN Ghana has announced plans to relocate over 130 kilometres of its fibre optic infrastructure to safer zones in an effort to reduce persistent service disruptions and improve network reliability for customers across the country.
According to a report by the Graphic Online, the decision comes amid a surge in fibre cuts that have consistently affected network quality, especially in northern parts of Ghana. MTN Ghana’s Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Blewett, said the move had become necessary to protect the integrity of the company’s infrastructure and ensure uninterrupted service delivery.
“When fibre cuts occur, base stations cannot transmit signals, which results in poor connectivity for our customers,” he said, and added that such disruptions posed a threat to national security, given the critical nature of communication infrastructure.
Mr. Blewett made these remarks at a media engagement held in Tamale. The meeting brought together journalists from the Upper West, Upper East, North East, Savannah, and Northern Regions to deepen collaboration and discuss key challenges affecting the industry.
According to him, the Northern sector alone records an average of four fibre cuts daily, mostly due to construction activities such as road works and the installation of water pipelines. He urged the public to help protect such vital infrastructure and prevent service interruptions.
These disruptions reflect a wider problem across Ghana’s telecom sector. The Chamber of Telecommunications revealed that over 5,600 cases of fibre optic cable cuts were recorded in 2024 alone, causing estimated losses of about GH¢138 million. The costly repairs average around US$23,000 per incident, straining the sector’s resources and hindering service reliability.
Ing. Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, CEO of the Chamber, explained that many damages occur inadvertently:
“There are those in road construction, drain construction, and private developments who inadvertently damage cables. Then, there are cases where individuals attempt to steal what they believe is copper, only to find out it’s fibre, essentially glass. By then, the damage is already done.”
Additional contributing factors include overloaded vehicles damaging aerial fibre lines and the effects of illegal mining activities in some areas, further exacerbating the problem.
In response, the Chamber has partnered strategically with the Attorney General’s Department to secure legal authority to prosecute individuals and companies responsible for damaging fibre optic cables. Training state attorneys dedicated to handling these cases has begun under the previous Attorney General and continues with the current administration.
This legal framework aims to protect telecom investments and ensure uninterrupted, high-quality services for consumers across Ghana.
Beyond connectivity, Mr. Blewett also highlighted MTN’s social interventions, including educational initiatives equipping hundreds of schoolchildren with digital skills, robotics training, and school infrastructure support. The company remains committed to empowering youth, women, and persons with disabilities.
The Northern Regional Secretary of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Futukpor, praised MTN for engaging the media and called for deeper collaboration. He encouraged the company to extend support to media houses and practitioners to amplify positive developments and strengthen media and corporate relations.
