MTN Ghana’s Digifest 2026 to drive digital innovation -

By DANIEL NONOR, Accra

MTN Ghana has launched the 2026 edition of its annual MTN Digifest, a technology fair aimed at promoting digital innovation and positioning Ghanaians to take advantage of opportunities in the rapidly evolving digital economy.

The month long programme is under the theme, “Powering Ghana’s Digital Generation,” The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MTN Ghana, Mr Stephen Blewett, said Ghana had the human capacity and innovative ideas required to become a leading force in digital solutions on the continent.

He, however, stressed the need to move beyond generating ideas to developing practical solutions that addressed real-world challenges.

“So, I think we’re trying to solve strong and fun solutions for real-world problems,” he said.
Mr Blewett said the success of digital innovation depended not only on the technology itself but also on the experience it offered users. “But what’s important is the experience of the customer, and the interface is extremely important,” he said.

He said Ghanaian innovators had demonstrated their ability to develop exciting ideas, adding that the challenge was to commercialise those ideas and take them beyond the local market.

“It’s because we have people who may not be highly educated but have amazing ideas. Even when I was going around with the Minister now, at the various digital innovation centres, every time I go there, I’m like, ‘Wow, that’s amazing,’” he said.

Mr Blewett said such ideas should not remain within Ghana but should be developed for the African and global markets.

He urged stakeholders to develop local skills and talent to enable Ghana to play a central role in the continent’s digital transformation.

“We need to develop our own skills, develop our own people, and make sure that we are part of this,” he said.

Data as new gold
The CEO also described data as a valuable resource which could drive the next phase of digital development.

He said MTN’s extensive data resources could be used responsibly to understand human behaviour, develop personalised services and improve customer experiences.

“But if you had to look at MTN as a gold mine, it would be a very, very valuable gold mine because of the amount of data we sit on,” Mr Blewett said.

He also stressed the importance of using artificial intelligence (AI) responsibly, particularly in developing solutions that benefit society and addressing cybersecurity challenges.

He said technologies such as AI, home security and e-gaming were already opening up new opportunities and would form an important part of the country’s digital future.

Mr Blewett said MTN was committed to contributing to Ghana’s digital transformation beyond its commercial interests.

“At MTN, we don’t take it only as a business imperative. We take it as something that is core to who we are. Everyone deserves the benefits of this modern, connected life,” he said.
From revolution to transformation

The Chief Digital Officer, Mr Ibrahim Misto, traced the evolution of the digital revolution from 1996 to 2026 and looked ahead to the next decade, with particular emphasis on the changing consumer experience.

He said MTN Digifest provided an opportunity for consumers and technology enthusiasts to encounter new ideas, participate in events and conferences, and explore MTN’s growing range of innovations.

He said innovation should ultimately translate into meaningful change in communities and improved consumer experiences.

He urged participants to explore, discover and act, while encouraging Ghanaians to learn, connect and collectively shape the country’s digital future.

Connecting 700,000 homes

The Senior Manager for Home Commercial and Marketing at MTN Ghana, Dorinda Bruce-Acquah, said the country’s digital landscape was continuously expanding, creating new opportunities for businesses, education and entertainment.

She said increasing digital activities in homes required smarter and more connected living environments, with MTN investing in technology to support that transition.

She disclosed that MTN was targeting the connection of 700,000 homes to the internet by the end of the year.

She said partnerships would be critical to making homes smarter and more productive, while providing improved opportunities for learning, entertainment and other activities.

Digital innovation and financial inclusion
The Chief Commercial Operations Officer, Mobile Money Fintech, Mr Abdul Razak Ali, said MTN was positioning itself to become a platform player in Ghana’s digital innovation journey.

He said Mobile Money Fintech Ltd was looking towards its 2030 vision of deepening financial inclusion, stressing that digital innovation would be critical to achieving that objective.

“This cannot happen without digital innovation,” he said. Mr Abdul Razak said digital technologies would also be used to improve customer experience by addressing challenges faced by customers and unlocking new opportunities for them.