Sam George: Smartphone penetration hits 71.8% as govt upgrades 2G, 3G sites to 4G/5G
Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Hon. Samuel Nartey George, says Ghana’s smartphone penetration has increased significantly from 27.5% in 2016 to 71.8% as of June 2026.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, the Minister said the government is modernising the country’s digital infrastructure by upgrading ageing 2G and 3G sites to 4G and 5G, particularly in rural areas, to improve connectivity and access.
He disclosed that the National Communications Authority (NCA) will commence biometric SIM verification before the end of 2026, as part of measures to enhance security and sanitise the SIM registration database.
On next-generation connectivity, Hon. George announced that the assignment of 5G spectrum and deployment are expected to begin before the end of the year.
He further announced that television stations on the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) platform will pay US$7,000 monthly from January 2027.
On service delivery, the Minister revealed that Ghana Post delivered more than 85,000 passports to citizens between January and July 2026, easing the burden on applicants.
He, however, acknowledged that fibre cuts remain a major challenge to network reliability and service quality, despite ongoing efforts to strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure.
The Minister noted that 1 out of every 4 fibre cuts is caused by galamsey operations, affecting internet connectivity nationwide.
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