MTN to invest $1.1bn in Ghana operation in 3 years -

MTN Ghana is set to significantly scale up investment in its network infrastructure, announcing plans to commit an additional US$1.1 billion in capital expenditure over the next three years, from 2026 to 2028.

The new investment follows approximately US$1 billion already deployed between 2021 and 2025.

This brings total capital expenditure over an eight-year period to more than US$2.1 billion, underscoring the company’s long-term confidence in Ghana’s economy and its digital future.

The announcement was made by Ralph Mupita, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MTN Group, during a high-level visit to Ghana last week.

The visit, which combined stakeholder engagements and strategic discussions, reinforced Ghana’s importance within MTN Group’s continental portfolio.

Ghana remains strategic investment destination

Speaking in an interview during his visit, Mr. Mupita emphasised that Ghana remains an attractive destination for investment, and that MTN was committed to investing in digital infrastructure, a priority for national development.

He noted that the decision to accelerate capital deployment reflects the Group’s strong belief in Ghana’s macroeconomic direction, regulatory stability, and long-term growth potential.

Over the past five years, MTN Ghana invested approximately US$1 billion in network expansion, digital platforms and service innovation.

The additional US$1.1 billion earmarked for the next three years represents not just continuity, but acceleration.

“This is an indication of the confidence we have in the Ghanaian market,” he said, adding that MTN wants to be recognised as a partner for progress within the broader national development vision of the Government of Ghana.

According to him, the visit at the beginning of the year was both symbolic and strategic.

Ghana, he stated “feels like home,” and it was important to start 2026 by engaging directly with MTN Ghana’s board members, leadership team, regulators and policymakers as MTN rolls out its strategy and plans.

During the visit, Mr. Mupita paid courtesy calls on the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, officials at the Bank of Ghana (BoG) and the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC).

He described the discussions as constructive and forward-looking, centred on aligning MTN’s corporate strategy with Ghana’s digital transformation agenda.

Strategy anchored on digital economy and financial inclusion

Mr. Mupita explained that MTN’s strategy in Ghana is closely aligned with the direction of the nation-state.

He identified two major engines of growth driving the company’s outlook: the digital economy and financial inclusion.

On infrastructure, he revealed that MTN Ghana currently operates more than 5,000 telecom sites across the country.

In 2026 alone, the company plans to roll out a minimum of 500 new sites — ten times the roughly 50 sites deployed in the previous year.

The aggressive rollout is aimed at significantly improving quality of service, particularly in peri-urban communities where rapid population growth — often described as “urban creep” — has outpaced network infrastructure.

Quality of service challenges, he noted, are not always confined to the originating caller.

A customer initiating a call may be in a well-covered urban area, but the recipient could be in a region with weaker signal strength, affecting overall service experience.

Concerns about service gaps in certain areas, including the Volta Region, were raised during discussions with the Communications Minister.

MTN has committed to addressing these through accelerated site deployment and expanded broadband coverage.

Leadership commitment to service excellence

CEO of MTN Ghana, Stephen Blewett, reinforced the company’s customer-centric philosophy.

He stressed that the most important principle guiding the business and leadership team is simple: customers deserve the best possible service and the best possible products.

“None of us will accept anything less than delivering the highest standards to customers,” he stated.

To demonstrate the seriousness of that pledge, Mr. Blewett reiterated the scale of capital commitments.

The US$1.1 billion planned over the next three years — including more than US$300 million this year alone — signals a deliberate escalation of investment intensity.

He contrasted recent deployment numbers to illustrate the shift. In 2024, the company rolled out between 25 and 30 sites.

In 2025, that number increased to approximately 50.

In 2026, however, the plan is to deploy at least 500 sites in a single year — an expansion not witnessed in the past decade.

He described the move as a targeted and aggressive intervention to eliminate service bottlenecks and expand broadband access nationwide.

Deepening engagement with regulators

Beyond infrastructure expansion, discussions during the visit also touched on collaboration with regulators and policy makers to strengthen the digital ecosystem.

At BoG, conversations focused on advancing financial inclusion, strengthening fintech innovation and addressing fraud in the mobile money ecosystem.

With GIPC, MTN reaffirmed its role as a major investor and pledged to support Ghana’s broader investment promotion efforts.

As one of the largest multinational investors in the country, the Group sees itself as an ambassador for Ghana’s investment case on international platforms.

The overarching message from the visit was clear: MTN’s growth ambitions in Ghana are intertwined with the country’s development trajectory.

Long-term commitment to Ghana’s digital future

The cumulative investment — exceeding US$2.1 billion over eight years — places MTN Ghana among the largest private-sector investors in the country’s digital infrastructure.

Mr. Mupita stressed that digital connectivity is no longer merely a telecommunications issue but a foundational pillar of economic growth, financial inclusion, education, healthcare delivery and entrepreneurship.

He highlighted MTN’s sustained investments in digital and youth empowerment initiatives across Ghana.

These include the establishment of ICT libraries and laboratories in secondary and tertiary institutions and the creation of a Digital Skills Academy, an online platform.

Under the government’s One Million Coders Programme, MTN has committed US$2 million to support nationwide coding and digital literacy training.

MTN will continue to support the One Million Coders Programme with additional certifications to deepen digital skills training and ensure that the government’s objectives are achieved.

These efforts will be crowned by the completion of a US$25 million ICT Hub, which is expected to serve as a catalyst for startups, businesses, academia, students and spearhead research and innovation particularly in digital education, health and agriculture.

In the agricultural sector, MTN has also invested GH¢3 million in a Vegetable Centre of Excellence at the University of Ghana — a modern agricultural training and production hub aimed at transforming how young Ghanaians perceive and participate in farming, while promoting agribusiness as a viable and technology-driven career path.

Beyond infrastructure, MTN has pledged to deepen specialist training in artificial intelligence, information technology, coding and other emerging fields through its Digital Skills Academy, a zero-rated online platform.

These initiatives are designed not only to support government’s digital transformation agenda but also to align with MTN’s broader strategic vision of enabling Africa’s digital future.

By accelerating digital training, infrastructure deployment, broadband coverage and financial inclusion, MTN aims to position Ghana at the forefront of Africa’s digital transformation.

As 2026 begins, the company’s expectations for its Ghana operations are high.

Leadership expressed confidence that the combination of sustained capital investment, regulatory collaboration and customer-focused innovation will deliver improved service quality and stronger socio-economic impact.

For MTN Group, Ghana is not just another operating market.

It is a strategic growth engine, and the next three years will see the company doubling down on that belief with one of its most ambitious investment programmes yet.