MTN to construct 80 new network sites in Northern Ghana under $1.1 billion investment plan

By: Eugene Dogbatse Atsu

Mobile Telephone Networks Ghana (MTN) has announced plans to build 80 new network sites across the five northern regions in 2026 as part of a $1.1 billion investment programme.

The announcement was made during a stakeholder engagement forum in Tamale on Thursday, August 14, where Senior Manager in charge of Base Station Subsystems, Emmanuel Kwei Afutu, said the telecommunications giant marked its 30th anniversary in Ghana. He revealed that the company has allocated $380 million for network expansion this year to improve coverage and service quality across the country.

Mr. Afutu explained that the northern expansion project will cover all five regions, with 38 new sites planned for the Northern Region, 17 for the Savannah Region, 14 for the Upper East Region, 11 for the North East Region and one additional site for the Upper West Region.

He noted that the project forms part of MTN’s nationwide target to deploy 500 new network sites in 2026, describing it as one of the company’s largest infrastructure investments in recent years.

According to him, the expansion is expected to improve access to digital services and create new opportunities for communities across northern Ghana.

“The sites are expected to help farmers reach markets, students access online learning, businesses process digital payments, and families stay connected,” he said.

He added that improved connectivity would also support communication and safety efforts in communities facing security challenges while strengthening access to essential services.

Beyond infrastructure development, he said iMTN will continue to invest in social impact programmes through the MTN Ghana Foundation.

These include the MTN Skills Academy, which aims to equip more than 100,000 young people with digital and financial skills, and the Bright Scholarship programme, which has supported over 1,200 students. The company has also undertaken water, sanitation and hygiene projects in schools across northern Ghana.

Mr. Afutu acknowledged that affordability and digital literacy remain challenges but stressed the need for continued collaboration among government, regulators, communities and the private sector to drive Ghana’s digital transformation.

“As Ghana grows, we will grow with Ghana; our ambition has moved from simply connecting people to connecting people to opportunities,” he said.